By Aftab Ahmed and Nikunj Ohri
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's government expects economic growth to slow in the financial year ending March, as pandemic-related distortions ease and pent-up demand for goods levels out going into 2023.
Gross domestic product (GDP) will likely rise 7% this fiscal year, compared with 8.7% the previous year, the Ministry of Statistics said in its first estimate for the period that put manufacturing growth at just 1.6%.
The preliminary overall projection is lower than the government's earlier forecast of 8%-8.5%, but above the central bank's 6.8%.
The government uses the estimates as a basis for its growth and fiscal projections for the next budget due on Feb. 1. That will be the last full budget before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to run for a rare third term in elections due in summer 2024.
GRAPHIC : Growth on the cards - https://www.reuters.com/graphics/INDIA-ECONOMY/GDP/znvnbzdzxvl/chart.png
India's economy rebounded after COVID-19 restrictions were eased around mid-2022, but the war in Ukraine has spurred inflationary pressures, prompting the central bank to reverse the ultra-loose monetary policy it adopted during the pandemic.
It has raised key interest rates by 225 basis points since May to 6.25%, the highest in three years, and another modest hike is expected early this year.
Since September, economists have been cutting their 2022/23 growth projections to around 7% due to slowing exports and risks of high inflation crimping purchasing power.
Construction growth was projected at 9.1%, electricity at 9% and agriculture at 3.5%. Manufacturing and mining growth were forecast at 1.6% and 2.4%.
Growth in manufacturing was disappointing as corporate profits in the second quarter shrunk, said Madan Sabnavis, an economist at Bank of Baroda.
India's nominal growth, which includes inflation, is projected to be at 15.4% for 2022/23, up from an earlier 11.1% estimate.
"The nominal GDP growth is higher, implying that the government's fiscal deficit target will be achieved," said Sabnavis.
India remains a relative "bright spot" in the world economy, but needs to leverage its existing strength in services exports and extend it to job-rich manufacturing exports, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) official said on Friday.
It is expected to remain the second-fastest growing economy –- lagging only Saudi Arabia -– among G20 countries, according to the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
India's growth potential is likely to be dented in the fiscal year starting on April 1, due to weak exports among other factors, Pranjul Bhandari economist at HSBC Securities and Capital Markets said in a note to clients.
"Buoyant albeit mixed domestic consumption should help to stave off some of the pain arising from weak exports during this period," Aditi Nayar, economist at ICRA.