MoSPI data may rely on proxies, understate GDP shrinkage in Q1: Experts

Experts peg the GDP fall at up to 35%, but statistics office may calculate it at 15-16% due to unavailability of data for informal sector

Estimates of decline in gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2020-21 are going up to 35 per cent due to the impact of lockdown amid the pandemic, but the statistics office may show only a 15-16 per cent fall because it does not have the data on the informal sector and uses proxies for that.

India recorded a contraction in the economy some four decades ago. Former chief statistician Pronab Sen projected the GDP contraction to be at least 25 per cent, and that can go up to 35 per cent.

However, he cautioned that the National