Backdrop for Budget: 7.4% growth estimated for FY26

The Indian economy is expected to grow at 7.4% in the ongoing fiscal year, the National Statistical Office (NSO) said in its first advance estimates of gross domestic product released on Wednesday, with manufacturing, services, and government expenditure spurring growth.

- Roshan Kishore

And the small print of the numbers released suggest that despite low inflation pushing nominal growth, in percentage terms, lower than that assumed in the budget, there is unlikely to be any adverse impact on tax collections and the fiscal deficit - good news from the perspective of both the macroeconomy and the forthcoming Union Budget.