Economy grew 7.1% in first half: Sitharaman

The Commerce Minister said so in a written reply in the Lok Sabha

Commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the economy grew by 7.1 per cent in the first half of 2016-17, though the central statistics office is yet to release Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for the second (July-September) quarter.

"Despite subdued growth in the world economy, India has maintained a GDP growth rate of 7.2 per cent in 2014-15, 7.6 per cent in 2015-16 and 7.1 per cent during April to September of 2016-17," the minister said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, according to Press Trust of India.

The economy grew by a five-quarter low of 7.1 per cent in the first three months. Figures for the second quarter are to come on Thursday.

"We have not released the data yet to anyone," said an official from the ministry of statistics and programme implementation.

If the minister's statement is correct, the economy grew 7.1 per cent in the second quarter as well.