Latest business news
GDP overestimation: PM’s panel to issue ‘point by point rebuttal’ to ex-CEA’s claim

As was to be expected, the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to the Prime Minister today (Wednesday, June 12) rejected former Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Arvind Subramanian’s claim that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) numbers have been inflated, said media reports.
Subramanian in his study, reported yesterday, had said that India’s economic growth was overestimated by 2.5% points per year between 2011-’12 and 2016-’17, a period when both the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments were in power.
In his article in The Indian Express yesterday, Subramanian had said the actual growth figures between 2011 and 2017 — a period that spanned the UPA2 and the Narendra Modi government’s first term – werecloser to 4.5 per cent and not 7 per cent.
He has also suggested that the GDP estimation be revisited by an independent task force comprising national and international experts, statisticians, macro-economists and policy users.
The PM’s advisory body said Subramanian had made “strong claims”.
“It is worth noting that the base year of India’s income calculations shifted to 2011-’12 on the basis of recommendations of several committees with experts in National Income Accounting,” the EAC said. “It was on the basis of these recommendations, started in 2008, that the government implemented the change from January, 2015. Therefore, it is wrong to suggest that the views of experts have not been taken into account while changing the Base Year…”
Also Read: India’s growth rate overestimated by 2.5%, says study by former chief economic advisor
The advisory body also claimed that a country’s GDP should be measured in nominal terms, not in terms of real growth rates. “The Economic Advisory Council will examine in detail the estimates made in Subramanian’s paper and come out with a point-by-point rebuttal in due course,” it added.
It also accused the former CEA of attempting to sensationalise the matter, and said this was undesirable “from the point of view of preserving the independence and quality of India’s statistical systems”.
“These are certainly issues that Dr Subramanian must certainly have raised while he was working as CEA, though by his own admission, he has taken time to understand India’s growth numbers and is still unsure,” the council added.
The statement follows a clarification last evening from the Ministry of Statistics, which said estimates of the country’s economic growth are based on “accepted procedures, methodologies and available data”.
The Council argued that Dr. Subramanian, in his research, used “cross-country regressions” to estimate the GDP and said it was a “most unusual exercise”.
“Using cross-country regressions to estimate GDP is a most unusual exercise, as is the suggestion that any country’s GDP that is off the regression line must be questioned. The proxy indicators that he used can also be questioned. Nor does this exercise allow for GDP increases on the basis of productivity gains,” the statement read.
“A country’s GDP is in nominal terms and any exercise should be on the basis of nominal figures, not real growth rates,” it added.
Also Read: RBI cuts interest rates as economy slows, India loses out to China as fastest growing economy
Subramanian had said inaccurate statistics on the economy “dampen the impetus for reform”, and restoring growth must be the current government’s key policy objective. “In reality, weak job growth and acute financial sector stress may have simply stemmed from modest GDP growth,” he had added. The same day, the Centre claimed Subramanian’s estimates were based on “accepted procedures, methodologies, and available data”.
In May, the government had announced that India’s growth rate had declined to 5.8% in the last quarter of the financial year 2018-’19. This was the slowest pace of growth in 17 quarters.
Latest business news
Rapido to introduce cab services soon
The company intends to introduce Rapido taxis in Delhi-NCR as early as next week, according to sources.

Rapido, the two- and three-wheeler ride-hailing platform with the quickest growth, is getting ready to introduce the taxi service on a wide network shortly. According to reports, Rapido’s planned facility will offer a service comparable to that of Ola and Uber.
According to the report, a daily choice would be made to provide passengers with a flawless travel experience. The brand hasn’t yet disclosed the precise launch information, though.
The company is currently testing out a taxi service in Hyderabad and is receiving positive feedback from users. According to reports, the company is testing the service at an advanced stage and may expand the network to further locations once it receives more positive feedback.
The company intends to introduce Rapido taxis in Delhi-NCR as early as next week, according to sources.
A statement from Rapido that read, the company is thrilled to share that our test run for Rapido Cabs in Hyderabad is off to a fantastic start. The dynamic market of the city has welcomed us with open arms, and the encouraging feedback is quite encouraging. We sincerely hope to expand our cutting-edge services to further cities and are dedicated to keeping you fully updated on our progress as we forge ahead.
Additionally, the article mentioned that Rapido wants to work with Zingbus, a company based in Gurugram, to integrate intercity bus ticketing into its app.
Meanwhile, for the previous eight years, Rapido has been providing bike taxi services. Since its founding in 2015, the organisation has expanded its network to encompass over 100 communities across the country, and it has received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Following its popularity, the brand expanded to include the 3-wheeler category with the same service.
Based on information found on Tracxn, Rapido has raised $324 million in total. Swiggy, an online meal delivery business, spearheaded the company’s $180 million fundraising effort in April of last year.
India News
BSE Sensex, Nifty fall due to tension in Middle East
The 30 share Bombay Stock exchange fell 407.19 points in the early trade. The Nifty fell 142.7 points. Asian Paints, IndusInd Bank, Titan, Tata steel and State Bank of India were the major stock which lagged behind.

The BSE Sensex, Nifty fell on early trade on Monday as rising tensions in the middle east has set off a risk off in the market. According to market analysts investors preferred to remain on the sidelines and did not take any big risks as Hamas-Israel conflict has caused huge uncertainity for the markets.
The 30 share Bombay Stock exchange fell 407.19 points in the early trade. The Nifty fell 142.7 points. Asian Paints, IndusInd Bank, Titan, Tata steel and State Bank of India were the major stock which lagged behind. But Sun Pharna, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys, Wipro, TCS, Tech Mahindra and HCL technologies did not go according to the market trend and traded in the positive territory.
The BSE had gone up 364.06 points or 0.55 percent to settle at 65,995.63 points on Friday. The Nifty had gone up 107.75 points to settle at 19,653.50. The Hamas-Israel conflict has caused a huge uncertainity in the market. VK VijayaKumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Financial services said No one knows how this war is going to evolve.
He said the war is not going to cause disruption to the oil supplies, the situation will change if Iran is drawn to the war. As Iran is a major Hamas supporter. Vijayakumar said this can cause disruption in oil supplies which will further lead to increase in crude oil prices. He said it is a time to remain cautious in the market.
The manufacturing data and industrial production for the month of August are going to be announced on October 12. Inflation rate for September will be announced after the Wholesale price index (WPI) data on October 13.The Reserve Bank of India had left its key interest rate unchanged. RBI signaled to keep liquidity tight by using bond sales to bring prices closer to market.
Latest business news
First look of Air India’s aircraft following changes to the logo and design revealed | See here
Air India uploaded images of its A350 aircraft parked in a paint shop in Toulouse, France, on X, formerly known as Twitter. This winter, the jet will touch down in India.

Prominent airline Air India posted the first image of its aircraft on Saturday after changing its name, logo, and livery after being acquired by the Tata Group.
Air India uploaded images of its A350 aircraft parked in a paint shop in Toulouse, France, on X, formerly known as Twitter. This winter, the jet will touch down in India.
Here is the majestic A350 in our new livery for the first time, as seen in Toulouse’s paint shop. This winter, our A350s start returning home… @Airbus, tweeted Air India.
As part of its rebranding effort, Air India earlier in August announced its new logo and colour palette.
The new logo, which features a more stylized style and a new colour scheme of red, white, and purple, is a contemporary interpretation of the airline’s well-known Maharaja mascot.
The strong red lettering of Air India is still present in the new colour scheme but is in a different font. Air India is written in white in a red area on the underside of the aircraft as part of the colour scheme.
According to the airline, the new livery and design of the aircraft incorporates a pattern that is inspired by the chakras and a colour scheme of deep red, aubergine, and gold highlights.
The airline’s previous logo, which depicted a red swan embellished with the recognisable orange Konark Chakra, has been replaced.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran stated the new logo signifies limitless possibilities at the time of unveiling it.
In January 2022, Tata Sons bought Air India through Talace Private Limited, an entirely owned subsidiary. Later, it was revealed that Air India and Vistara, a different Tata Sons division, will be combined to form a more cohesive organisation. By March 2024, this merger is expected to be finished.
-
India News20 hours ago
BJP appoints Vinod Tawde, Saroj Pandey, Rajnath Singh, as central observers to pick chief minister of Rajasthan
-
India News16 hours ago
Nine newborns, toddler die within 24 hours at Murshidabad Medical College Hospital
-
India News18 hours ago
Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra expelled from Parliament on ethics panel’s recommendation over cash-for-query row
-
India News21 hours ago
Watch: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shares video of India’s first bullet train railway station
-
India News17 hours ago
PM Modi inaugurates Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023 at the Forest Research Institute
-
India News22 hours ago
Smriti Irani shares photo of meeting between PM Modi and her father
-
India News24 hours ago
Telangana: Former Chief Minister KCR hospitalised following a fall; suspected hip and back injury
-
Cricket news20 hours ago
Women’s Premier League 2024 auctions to be held tomorrow, 165 players to go under the hammer