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Contraction in GDP of India in 2020-21: World Bank

  • 09 Oct 2020
  • 6 min read

Why in News

Recently, the World Bank released its South Asia Economic Focus report which estimated that India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can contract by 9.6% in 2020-21.

  • This estimate is way below the earlier forecast of 3.2% contraction, made in June.

Key Points

  • Contraction of Indian Economy in 2020-21
  • South Asian Scenario:
    • The entire South Asia region may face its worst-ever recession.
      • The regional GDP is estimated to contract by 7.7% in 2020, which stayed above 6% annually in the past five years.
      • This recession will be different from previous ones as earlier downturns were mainly due to falling investment and exports but this pandemic-induced recession is due to a decline in private consumption.
    • Private consumption, which has been traditionally the backbone of demand in South Asia and a core indicator of economic welfare, will decline by more than 10%. This will spike poverty rates.
    • A decline in remittances is also expected to accelerate the loss of livelihoods for the poorest in some countries.
    • Other South Asian Countries: Countries like the Maldives, Sri Lanka are going to see a contraction in their economies while Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan will witness slow growth in 2020-21.
    • The collapse of South Asian economies during Covid-19 has been the worst of all for small businesses and informal workers who suffer sudden job losses and vanishing wages.
  • Rebound of Economy in 2021-22
    • India’s growth is estimated to rebound to 5.4% in 2021-22.
      • However, this will be reflecting base effects and are based on the assumption that Covid-related restrictions will be completely lifted by 2022.
      • Base Effect: It is the distortion in a monthly inflation figure that results from abnormally high or low levels of inflation in the year-ago month.
    • South Asia’s growth is projected to rebound to 4.5% in 2021.
      • However, due to population growth, per-capita income in the region will remain 6% below 2019 estimates.
    • The expected rebound will not offset the lasting economic damage caused by the pandemic.
    • However, the pandemic could spur innovations that improve South Asia’s future participation in global value chains.
    • The comparative advantage that South Asia and India have in tech services and niche tourism will likely be in higher demand as the global economy becomes more digital.
  • Other Related News

Way Forward

  • The World Bank urged governments to design universal social protection as well as policies that support greater productivity, skills development, and human capital.
  • Amid a sudden and steep economic impact from the pandemic, South Asian governments proactively stabilized the economy through monetary easing, fiscal stimulus, and supportive financial regulation, but the situation is fragile. The governments need to address the deep-seated vulnerabilities of their informal sectors through smart policies and allocate their scarce resources wisely.

Source: IE

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