New Delhi (PTI): Buoyed by more-than-expected 8.2 per cent GDP growth rate in the second quarter, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran on Friday expressed optimism that India's economy is likely to record growth of 7 per cent or higher than that in the current financial year.

The Economic Survey tabled in Parliament in January had projected real economic growth of 6.3-6.8 per cent for FY26.

Briefing the media after the release of the second-quarter GDP growth, Nageswaran said the Indian economy is expected to cross USD 4 trillion in the current fiscal year, given the current rate of growth.

India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), an indicator of the size of the economy, stood at USD 3.9 trillion at the end of March this year, he added.

As India's economy recorded an 8 per cent growth rate in the first half of the current financial year, he said, the full-year outlook for GDP growth rate is now 7 per cent, or north of 7 per cent.

The Indian economy grew by a higher-than-expected 8.2 per cent -- a six-quarter high -- as increased factory production in anticipation of a consumption boost from the GST rate cut helped offset deceleration in farm output.

The growth in the second quarter, which compared to 7.8 per cent in the preceding three months and 5.6 per cent in the year-ago period, was also aided by a good showing by the services sector, which clocked double-digit growth.

The third quarter (October-December) of the current fiscal year has commenced on a sound footing, he pointed out.

He further said that the rural demand remains resilient while urban demand is gaining traction pst-GST rate cut.

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Guwahati (PTI): Former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah on Sunday joined the ruling BJP in the presence of its state unit president Dilip Saikia here.

Borah became a BJP member during a function held at the Assam BJP headquarters 'Vajpayee Bhawan'.

Along with him, former Congress worker Sanju Bora, too, joined the saffron party.

Borah had resigned on February 16, with the Congress high command not accepting it and senior leaders rushing to his residence, while Rahul Gandhi also spoke to him.

He had asked for time to reconsider his decision, but the next day, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma went to his residence and announced that he would join the BJP on February 22.

The 126-member Assam assembly is expected to go to polls in March-April.