PREVIOUS
✖
Economic Survey 2025/26 - Key Highlights
February 1 , 2026
17 hrs 0 min
22
0
- The Economic Survey 2025–26 was tabled in Parliament on 29 January 2026, ahead of the Union Budget 2026–27.
- India’s potential growth rate has been revised upward to 7%, up from 6.5% in previous estimates.
- The economy is projected to grow at 6.8–7.2% in FY2026–27.
- India remains the fastest-growing major economy for the fourth consecutive year.
- The Survey warns of global economic uncertainty, estimating a 10–20% chance of a crisis worse than the 2008 global financial crisis in 2026.
- Even the best-case global scenario for 2026 is “business as in 2025”, though conditions are increasingly fragile.
- India is described as an “oasis of economic performance” in a weak global environment.
- Inflation is tamed and anchored, with average Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 1.7% during April–December 2025, the lowest since the series began.
- Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) grew by 7% in FY26, forming 61.5% of GDP, the highest share since FY23.
- The agriculture and services sectors remain the largest contributors to India’s GDP.
- Food grain production in the Agriculture Year 2024–25 reached 3,577.3 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), an increase of 254.3 LMT over the previous year, driven by rice, wheat, maize, and coarse cereals.
- The Government of India’s capital expenditure rose nearly 4.2 times, from ₹2.63 lakh crore in FY18 to ₹11.21 lakh crore in FY26 (Budget Estimates), while effective capital expenditure in FY26 is ₹15.48 lakh crore.
- The National Highway network expanded by 60%, from 91,287 km in FY14 to 1,46,572 km in FY26 (up to December).
- The operational High-Speed Corridors increased nearly ten-fold, from 550 km in FY14 to 5,364 km in FY26 (up to December).
- The railway network reached 69,439 route km as of March 2025, with 99.1% electrification achieved by October 2025.
- India became the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, with the number of airports increasing from 74 in 2014 to 164 in 2025.
- India achieved autonomous satellite docking (SpaDeX), becoming the fourth nation in the world to do so.
- Total exports reached a record $825.3 billion in FY25, registering a 6.1% year-on-year growth, driven mainly by services exports.
- The banking sector’s asset quality improved, with Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) at 2.2% and Net NPA at 0.5% in September 2025.
- The fiscal deficit is on track at 4.4% of GDP for FY26.
- The Indian rupee underperformed in 2025, not reflecting the country’s strong economic fundamentals.
- India benefits from a large domestic market, strong foreign exchange reserves, and a credible degree of strategic autonomy, which provide buffers against financial volatility.
- The Survey supports Swadeshi as a legitimate policy instrument amid increasing export controls and global uncertainties.
- It emphasizes import substitution, strategic resilience, and strategic indispensability as long-term priorities.
- Agriculture, manufacturing, and services must grow together to sustain momentum.
- Labour Codes recognize gig and platform workers, expanding social security and benefits, and aim to improve formal employment.
- Climate finance remains a binding constraint, and climate action is now a core component of India’s development strategy.
- The Survey recommends age-based limits for social media and reduced online teaching to prevent digital addiction among children.
- It also suggests a ban on advertisements of ultra-processed foods from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., highlighting rising childhood obesity.
- The RTI Act may need re-examination to align with global best practices while retaining its original intent.
- India’s late entry into AI offers an advantage, enabling resource-efficient and inclusive adoption aligned with public objectives.
- The Survey includes 16 chapters, covering topics like urbanisation, AI, environment, infrastructure, industry, education, and strategic resilience.
Leave a Reply
Your Comment is awaiting moderation.