The country’s economic growth is expected to improve to 7.9 per cent in current fiscal year, even as it would take some more time for corporates to start investing, global rating agency Crisil said today.
“Crisil forecasts India’s GDP growth to increase to 7.9 per cent in fiscal year 2016. Our projections are based on falling inflation, declining interest rates, and our expectation of a healthy monsoon this year,” Crisil chief economist D K Joshi said.
However, agency’s projection is lower than 8-8.5 per cent GDP growth forecast by the government for 2015-16.
Indian economy grew at 7.4 per cent in 2014-15 and 6.9 per cent in 2013-14.
Earlier in the day, foreign brokerage Morgan Stanley said that country’s economy will grow at 7.9 per cent this fiscal and 8.4 per cent in FY 2016-17, on the back of policy reforms, spurt in domestic demand and lower inflation.
In the report titled India’s Economy Is On The Mend, But Corporations Remain Wary, Crisil said the growth prospects “appear brighter”, particularly among emerging markets.
The investment cycle is yet to show any signs of pickup and high non-performing assets in the banking sector foster risk aversion and mute monetary transmission and credit growth, it said.
“Therefore, it is important for India to stay the course of economic reform and renewed growth and to get the private corporate sector to join in the journey,” it added.
Crisil said the economy has been on a gradual uptrend since May last year but the country’s corporate sector remains in a wait-and-see mode before committing to significant new investments.