RBI Handbook Marks India’s Economic Resilience
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the much-anticipated “Handbook of Statistics on the Indian Economy, 2024-25,” offering an authoritative dataset that underscores India’s continued economic dynamism even as global headwinds buffet major economies. The annual publication, a vital resource for economists, policymakers, and industry alike, catalogs extensive time-series data on all fundamental aspects of the Indian macroeconomy, including national income, inflation, banking, financial markets, public finance, foreign trade, and select socio-economic indicators.
Key Economic Highlights from the Handbook
GDP and Growth: India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth moderated but remained robust at 6.5% for 2024-25, outpacing most major global economies. Real GDP stood at ₹187.95 lakh crore, reflecting the resilience of domestic demand and effective economic management.
Sectoral Performance:
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Agriculture: Gross Value Added (GVA) from the agricultural sector accelerated to 4.6% (up from 2.7% last year), attributed to record foodgrain production and favorable weather.
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Industry: Industrial growth softened to 4.3% but maintained positive momentum, especially in manufacturing and construction.
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Services: The services sector surged 7.5%, accounting for more than 64% of GVA, fueled by expansion in digital, financial, and hospitality services.
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Digital Payments Surge: A hallmark achievement, digital payments volume registered a phenomenal 34.8% growth, with transaction value up by 17.9%. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) handled nearly half of global real-time payment volumes by count, a testament to India’s fintech leadership.
Inflation, Public Finance, and Fiscal Health
Inflation Trends: Headline inflation eased, notably due to bumper foodgrain output and softening in core categories. Inflation for 2024-25 is projected at 4.0%, with risks largely contained.
Fiscal Position:
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The central government’s gross fiscal deficit dipped to 4.7% of GDP from 5.5% the previous year, reflecting sound fiscal management and improved revenue collections.
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Capital expenditure rose by 5.2%, while revenue expenditure grew by 5.8%. The states’ combined fiscal deficit is forecast to stay within 3.2% of GDP.
India’s External Sector: Trade and Balance of Payments
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Trade Performance: Despite global volatility, India’s external sector showed stability with prudent management of trade balances and foreign reserves. The RBI’s robust approach to maintaining currency stability and supporting exports has been crucial.
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Balance of Payments: Comprehensive data in the handbook reveals a stable trajectory for India’s external accounts, helping buffer the economy against international shocks.
Advances in Financial Inclusion and Regulation
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Financial Inclusion Index: The RBI’s index climbed to 64.2 in 2024 from 60.1 in 2023, driven by expanding access to banking, insurance, and pension products.
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Regulatory Innovation: 2024-25 saw the launch of the ‘bank.in’ domain, wider trials of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) (now at 17 banks and 6 million users), and the unveiling of repositories for fintech and advanced technologies.
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Consumer Protection: The expansion of RBI Ombudsman offices and the initiation of all-India financial literacy campaigns (notably for youth) represent major steps toward responsible financial conduct and dispute resolution.
Forward Outlook for 2025-26
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Steady Growth Ahead: The RBI projects that India will sustain a 6.5% GDP growth rate into 2025-26—boding well for jobs, income, and investments—even as the world economy slows.
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Fiscal and Debt Targets: The Center has committed to further reduce the fiscal deficit to 4.4% of GDP, aiming for a declining public-debt-to-GDP ratio (targeted at 50% by 2031).
Significance and Access
The Handbook remains a cornerstone for data-driven decision-making. It is available on the RBI’s official portal alongside regular updates through the Database on Indian Economy (DBIE), ensuring transparency and accessibility for researchers and the public. Feedback and suggestions for future improvements are welcomed via online channels and postal correspondence.
Sources: Economiuc Times, LinkedIn, RBI Annual Report and Handbook Highlights, 2024-25
