India’s Q2 GDP contracts by 7.5 %, after record slump 23.9% in last quarter
New Delhi, Nov 27: India's economy recovered faster than expected in the September quarter as a pick-up in manufacturing helped GDP clock a lower contraction of 7.5 per cent and held out hopes for further improvement on consumer demand bouncing back.
The gross domestic product (GDP) had contracted by a record 23.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2020-21 fiscal (April 2020 to March 2021) as the coronavirus lockdown pummelled economic activity.
The second straight quarter of contraction pushed India to its first technical recession.
The GDP contraction of 7.5 per cent in July-September compared with a growth of 4.4 per cent in the same quarter last year, according to data released by the statistics ministry on Friday.
With the gradual opening up from June, the economy picked up momentum. Manufacturing clocked a surprise 0.6 per cent growth in July-September after it had shrunk by a massive 39 per cent in the preceding quarter.
Continuing its good showing, the agriculture sector grew by 3.4 per cent, while electricity and gas expanded 4.4 per cent.
Financial and real estate services shrank 8.1 per cent in the second quarter of FY21 from a year ago, while trade, hotels, transport and communication declined 15.6 per cent.
The construction sector, which is the second-largest employer in the economy, contracted only 8.6 per cent in Q2 versus (-) 50 per cent in Q1.
Public spending was down 12 per cent.
Analysts and economists, who have projected the economy shrinking for the full fiscal, had expected a wider contraction in Q2.
China's economy grew by 4.9 per cent in July-September this year, faster than the 3.2 per cent growth in April-June 2020.
Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy Subramanian said the GDP numbers were "quite encouraging" given the pandemic and compared with the previous quarter's performance.
Giving outlook for the near future, he said, "We should be cautiously optimistic and the caution is warranted because the economic impact is primarily due to the pandemic."
Rumki Majumdar, economist, Deloitte India said recent high-frequency data possibly suggest a quicker rebound ahead.
"The possibility of a release of several highly effective vaccines soon gives us hope that there is an end date to the pandemic, even if it may not be immediate," Majumdar said.
Stating that the numbers are surely not as gloomy as was being anticipated, Mayur Dwivedi of Religare Enterprises said it now remains to be seen whether this momentum is sustained in the remaining two quarters of FY21.
In the first half, India's GDP contracted by 15.7 per cent compared to a growth of 4.8 per cent in the same period last fiscal.
Though the contraction in July-September pushed India into its first technical recession, based on records going back to 1996, a sharp recovery held out hopes for the economy turning around before the end of the fiscal year.
Analysts said the recovery was 'V' shaped.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das had on Thursday stated that the recovery from the lockdown has been stronger than expected and the economy could show growth in the fourth quarter.
Post Q2, there has been a pick-up in consumer demand for autos, non-durables and rail freight during the festival season as prospects grew for COVID-19 vaccines to be launched early next year.
But there are downside risks as some states reimposed curbs to fight a second wave of infections, which could possibly slow the pace of recovery in the next two or three months, as well as heightening the risk of inflation.
India's tally of infections has crossed 93 lakh -- the second-highest globally after the US -- with more than 1.35 lakh deaths.
The improvement in the economy came ahead of next week's interest rate decision by the RBI.
"GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in Q2 of 2020-21 is estimated at Rs 33.14 lakh crore, as against Rs 35.84 lakh crore in Q2 of 2019-20, showing a contraction of 7.5 percent as compared to 4.4 percent growth in Q2 2019-20," the National Statistical Office (NSO) said in a statement.
"With a view to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, restrictions were imposed on the economic activities not deemed essential during Q1.
"Though the restrictions have been gradually lifted, there has been an impact on economic activities. In these circumstances, some other data sources such as GST, interactions with professional bodies, etc. were also referred to for corroborative evidence and these were clearly limited," it added.
Most rating agencies had projected that the fall in India's GDP for the second quarter of 2020-21 would be arrested to single digits.
Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said the economic recovery was a 'pleasant surprise'.
"Manufacturing shows a positive growth which is the confirmation of a rebound of demand led recovery," he tweeted.
Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal said the Q2 GDP numbers show that economy is recovering. "Government's efforts on stimulus and reform are showing results. Hopefully, we will have positive growth in H2 FY21 and double digit growth in FY22."
India Ratings and Research said much would depend on the sustainability of the consumption demand seen in October.
"If it sustains then a faster recovery is possible. But with rising COVID-19 cases and some states hinting that they may have to impose some kind of lockdown could be a spoiler in the growth recovery process," it said.
Separate official data showed that April-October 2020 fiscal deficit at Rs 9.53 lakh crore was 119.7 per cent of the FY21 target.
Fiscal deficit has been budgeted at Rs 7.96 lakh crore for FY21.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
