The read-out for June quarter was in line with the 20.0% growth forecast of analysts in a Reuters poll, and much higher than 1.6% growth rate for the previous year.
The economy had contracted 24.4% in the same quarter a year earlier.
COMMENTARY
RADHIKA RAO, ECONOMIST, DBS BANK, SINGAPORE
"India's GDP rose 20% in the June quarter, close to our forecast, with base effects magnifying the extent of jump in the headline, whilst the impact of the second COVID-19 wave better reflected in the sequential contraction. Numbers were also partly influenced by seasonal distortions (i.e. end FY-March quarters)."
"Agricultural output proved to be resilient, alongside better construction and manufacturing activity owing to less stringent localised restrictions versus the first COVID wave, whilst contact-intensive services lagged."
SREEJITH BALASUBRAMANIAN, ECONOMIST - FUND MANAGEMENT, IDFC AMC, MUMBAI
"Nominal GDP for the June quarter, which witnessed the second wave of COVID-19 infections, grew 31.7 %y/y while real GDP grew 20.1%. Driven by base effect, as this actually represents a higher-than-usual quarter-on-quarter fall, the reading was slightly below consensus and also reflects a high GDP deflator."
"Vaccination progress will be crucial, given the possibility of a third wave of infections and the experience of countries which witnessed it. Support from rural, particularly agriculture, needs to be monitored given the fluctuations in monsoon rainfall and its impact on reservoir levels and crop harvest."
UPASNA BHARDWAJ, SENIOR ECONOMIST, KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK, MUMBAI
"The GDP figures for the first quarter came in marginally weaker than our expectations (21.7% growth). However, economic activity has been reviving since July and has picked up momentum. As vaccination pace picks up we expect the momentum to pickup further, although remain wary on the evolution of delta variant cases."
(Reporting by Chris Thomas and Rama Venkat in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
