Archive · 23 Dec 2025
CEA Defends GDP Data Methodology
The Chief Economic Advisor, V Anantha Nageswaran, spoke at a workshop to defend India's GDP data.
He said that people only criticize the data when it shows good growth, but not when it shows bad growth.
He explained that the methods used to calculate GDP are reliable and consistent.
He also mentioned that the informal sector might be overestimated because of how businesses keep their accounts.
He encouraged the Ministry of Statistics to make their methods more transparent so that outsiders can check and trust the data.
The Ministry is also working on new surveys and indexes to improve data quality.
CEA V Anantha Nageswaran defended India's GDP data, stating that criticisms arise only when growth numbers are positive.
GDP growth rates for July-September and April-June were 8.2% and 7.8% respectively, beating expectations.
Economists argue that the single-deflator method used to calculate real GVA may overstate growth.
Nageswaran countered that similar criticisms were not raised when wholesale inflation was high in previous fiscal years.
He emphasized the need for symmetric evaluation of economic data and greater transparency in statistical methods.
- Who
- Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran
- What
- Defended GDP data methodology and criticized its critics
- When
- Tuesday, December 23, 2025
- Where
- Pre-release consultative workshop organized by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in New Delhi
- Why
- To address concerns about the methodology and reliability of GDP data
Critics of GDP Data
CEA Nageswaran
Data Methodology
Critics of GDP Data
Critics argue that the single-deflator method used to calculate real GVA may overstate growth.
CEA Nageswaran
Nageswaran defends the methodology, stating that similar criticisms were not raised when wholesale inflation was high in previous fiscal years.
Data Reliability
Critics of GDP Data
Critics question the reliability of GDP data when growth numbers are positive.
CEA Nageswaran
Nageswaran emphasizes the need for symmetric evaluation of economic data and greater transparency in statistical methods.
- CEA
- V Anantha Nageswaran
- GDP Growth Rate (July-September)
- 8.2%
- GDP Growth Rate (April-June)
- 7.8%
- Single-Deflator Method
- Used to calculate real GVA from current price estimates
- Services Sector Inflation (GDP Data)
- 1.2%
- Services Sector Inflation (CPI Data)
- 3.3%
- Fiscal Year
- Ongoing fiscal year
- Ministry
- Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
- Workshop
- Pre-release consultative workshop on base revision of CPI, GDP, and IIP
- New Surveys
- Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), Annual Survey of Service Sector Enterprises
- Upcoming Index
- Index of Service Production (2026)
Sources
‘We don’t hear murmurs… when data disappoints’: CEA Nageswaran hits out at GDP critics
CEA Nageswaran defends GDP data, flags selective criticism of growth estimates: Report
Need to change the mindset that India’s data methodology is inferior: CEA Nageswaran
CEA says mindset that India’s data estimates being inferior needs to change
