ADVERTISEMENTAccording to the working paper, growth between 2005 and 2011 may have been underestimated by around 1-1.5 percentage points a year, while growth between 2012 and 2023 may have been overestimated by roughly 1.5-2 percentage points (see chart). First, the methodology relied heavily on data from the organised or formal sector to estimate activity in the informal sector. By assuming both sectors grew at similar rates, official estimates likely overstated output from the informal economy and, therefore, the overall pace of growth. This created a break in the statistical series, making it difficult to compare growth in earlier years. Oddly, the figures were announced by the government’s policy think tank, NITI Aayog, rather than by the official statistical authority, the ministry of statistics and programme implementation.

Source: The Telegraph March 13, 2026 00:19 UTC