Coronavirus: SBI pegs FY21 growth at 2.6%, say govt must monetize deficit

SBI house economists have pegged the growth forecast for January-March at 2.5 per cent and for 2020-21 at 2.6 per cent given the massive disruptions to businesses and the economy due to the COVID-19-driven lockdowns, which has upended at least 70 per cent of the economy.

The nation is on three-week lockdown ending April 14, which many now feel will have to be extended as more and more coronavirus infections getting reported from across the country.

The pandemic has taken the lives of 109 people and infected 4,069 as of Monday in the country, while globally it has killed tens of thousands