Indian Economy Nears 8% Growth: Shaktikanta Das

Decoding the 8 Percent Growth Trajectory

Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary-2 Shaktikanta Das announced that the Indian economy is within striking distance of 8 per cent growth. He highlighted that economic resilience stems from a broad set of mutually reinforcing policy measures rather than accidental gains.

Real GDP growth exceeded 8 per cent when evaluating the period from July-September 2025-26 to April-June 2026-27. India previously registered a 7.8 per cent expansion in the June quarter, outperforming prior expectations.

The Core Reform Pillars

Das noted that decade-long policy measures were deliberately designed to build economic buffers and absorb sudden global disruptions. These foundational initiatives include several distinct policy frameworks.

Key reform mechanisms supporting the economic expansion include:

• Flexible inflation targeting frameworks established over the past decade.
• The implementation and administration of the Goods and Services Tax.
• An ongoing institutional commitment to fiscal prudence.
• The nationwide push for digital payments and comprehensive banking sector reforms.

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Financial Depth

Looking ahead, Das emphasized that India must capture the potential of the artificial intelligence revolution to maintain high growth. The nation’s future strategy relies on specific structural developments.

Strategic priorities for the upcoming development phase include:

• Building sovereign AI capability through investments in indigenous foundation models.
• Expanding high-performance computing infrastructure and semiconductor developments.
• Fostering a robust and active domestic innovation ecosystem.
• Deepening the financial sector to support the country’s expanding economic weight.