The GDP obfuscation

The new methodology of calculating GDP is more in line with international standards

In February 2015, India’s Central Statistical Office (CSO) revised the methodology for calculating the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The new methodology is more in line with international standards. At that time, the CSO revised GDP growth estimates for FY12 (financial year 2011-12), FY13, FY14, and FY15. The CSO promised to revise the GDP data for earlier years. From a policy perspective, this is necessary in order to compare current growth with that in the past years. But more than three years later, the CSO has still not provided it. This is unconscionable as it creates credibility problems for the