Politics · India Bureau
BJP hits back at Congress over GDP calculation criticism
The ruling BJP has dismissed opposition criticism of the government's GDP rebasing methodology, arguing that such revisions have been standard practice across multiple administrations. The party pointed to a history of similar exercises dating back to Independence.
LSN India ·
A senior BJP lawmaker has defended the government's approach to recalculating gross domestic product figures, rejecting Congress accusations of statistical manipulation. BJP MP Anil Baluni stated that rebasing exercises are routine economic adjustments that predate the current administration by decades.
Baluni noted that the latest GDP rebasing represents the ninth such revision since India's Independence in 1947, a practice adopted across successive governments. He highlighted that five previous rebasing exercises were conducted during Congress-led administrations, underlining that the methodology is neither novel nor partisan.
The rebasing of GDP involves recalculating the base year used for economic measurements, which can result in revised growth figures and structural assessments of the economy. Such exercises are conducted periodically by statistical agencies worldwide to ensure figures reflect current economic realities.
The Congress party has criticized recent GDP calculations, raising questions about their accuracy and reliability. The BJP's response underscores the political sensitivity surrounding economic data and growth claims, which remain contentious between India's major political formations as the country approaches general elections.