New GDP data shows slower growth during UPA years

The new data reveals India's GDP grew by 8.5 per cent during 2010-2011 and not 10.3 per cent as previously estimated. This comes as the country gears up for the general elections in 2019.

The difference in growth figures is because of a different base-year methodology used this time. The Central Statistics office processed the data of previous years using 2011-2012 as the base year and not 2004-2005.

In January 2015, the Central Statistics office changed the method by which it calculated GDP by changing the base year for calculation from 2004-2005 to 2011-2012. All growth data that was released from 2015 onwards used the new methodology. Considering the new base year, the Indian economy grew 7.7 per cent during 2007-2008 and not 9.8 per cent as was previously estimated.

Niti Aayog chief Rajiv Kumar said the new data released for 2004-2012 based on the 2011-2012 base year was a “significant improvement both for coverage and methodology”. He said the new series was "internationally comparable and is in sync with UN Standard National Account."

Asked about the timing of the release of this data, Kumar said the methodology had been adopted by leading statisticians.

"It was a matter of hard work done by the CSO officials who had taken the pain to do all the recalibration of economy that they have done," he said and added that the Union government had no intention to "mislead or try and do something purposefully" which does not reflect the reality.