Covid to act as speed-breaker, but won't derail economy, say experts

Some improvement likely when enough people are vaccinated in the later part of the year

The pandemic and ensuing lockdowns would push up bad debt and shrink the economy, but some improvement could be expected when enough people are vaccinated in the later part of the year, economists say.

“The April-June quarter will face the direct economic cost of the lockdown, contracting 13 per cent quarter on quarter, seasonally adjusted, which is half the contraction in the same quarter last year. The rebound in the next quarter could be a tad soft amidst the weight of new uncertainties. The exuberance is likely to come in strongly in the second half of fiscal 21-22, when a