Rating assessment of India focused on medium-term debt trajectory: Fitch

"We view the persistent level of core inflation and energy price developments, along with global price pressures, as carrying upside risk for our inflation outlook," said Zook,.

Fitch Ratings' Director, Asia-Pacific Sovereigns, Jeremy Zook tells Indivjal Dhasmana that the agency's move to retain India's ratings at the lowest investment grade and outlook at negative is based on its medium-term debt trajectory and the potential of government policies to reduce it. Edited excerpts:

Don't you think Fitch is an outlier since it still has a 'negative' outlook on India's ratings against 'stable' by S&P and Moody's?

Our rating action commentary reflects Fitch Ratings’ credit views; we do not comment on the ratings of other agencies.

India's high debt and huge fiscal deficit are due to exceptional conditions emanating