India's economy is expected to grow at 7.4 per cent in the current financial year, according to Standard & Poor's and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The latter expects growth to pick up to 7.8 per cent in 2016-17, while S&P projects growth to be higher at eight per cent.
However, risks to growth remain. In its note, ADB said: "India's economy faces further downside risks from sluggish private investment and rural demand weakened by slow wage growth and muted increase in support prices for agricultural products."
S&P warned significant reforms are needed as Indian corporates and banks are facing a weak operating environment.
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On the demand side, ADB noted indicators such as sales of vehicles and air passenger traffic were gathering momentum.
ADB has kept its GDP growth for Asia unchanged at 5.8 per cent in 2015, and six per cent in 2016 though it marginally lowered its growth for the Central Asia and Pacific region. "Despite some softening in the prospects for the major industrial economies, developing Asia is poised to meet growth forecasts," it noted.