The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has rated India’s economy as C-grade in its annual report, citing flawed economic data. The downgrade highlights weaknesses in India’s available economic statistics and questions their reliability. IMF said this marks the second consecutive year India received the second-lowest rating for its national accounts.
According to the report, India’s economic data from December 2011 is outdated and incomplete. The IMF noted that data gaps hinder effective economic monitoring and policymaking. Experts have repeatedly criticized India’s GDP calculation method, which relies heavily on income-based estimations.
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The IMF stated that these flaws make it difficult to accurately assess the economy’s performance. C-grade reflects significant deficiencies in India’s statistical framework that affect both domestic and global economic analysis. The agency emphasized that improving data quality is essential for better policy decisions.
The report warned that weak economic data can mislead investors and global institutions. It can also undermine confidence in India’s fiscal management and economic planning. IMF urged India to adopt more robust and transparent data collection methods.
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India’s government has faced criticism in the past over its economic reporting practices. Analysts say that unless India strengthens its statistical systems, it may continue receiving low ratings from international agencies. The downgrade is seen as another setback for India on the global economic stage.