Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Sharad Pawar Challenges Centre’s 7.8% GDP Growth Claims
The government said India’s economy grew by 7.8% during the April–June quarter.
Sharad Pawar said this number does not show the full picture.
He argued that inflation is high and household savings are falling.
Congress and economist Subhash Chandra Garg also questioned how the number was calculated.
The government and Union minister Kiren Rijiju said the growth figure is accurate.
Pawar also talked about high sugar prices and the need to help farmers.
He warned that too little rain in Maharashtra could hurt drinking-water supplies and farming.
He also said Narendra Modi may visit Baramati around October 16.
Sharad Pawar accused the Centre of manipulating statistical methods to obscure inflation and weakness in the real economy.
Pawar questioned the Union government’s reported 7.8% GDP growth for the April–June quarter, while MoSPI defended the figure and its methodology.
Congress and economist Subhash Chandra Garg also criticized changes to GDP calculations, but Union minister Kiren Rijiju rejected the opposition’s claims.
Pawar warned of drinking-water and sowing problems in Maharashtra because of severe rainfall deficits, and discussed sugar and dairy prices.
Pawar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Baramati around October 16 for a presentation on local initiatives.
- Who
- Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, the Union government, Congress, economist Subhash Chandra Garg, Union minister Kiren Rijiju, and MoSPI.
- What
- A political dispute over the Centre’s reported 7.8% GDP growth figure and the methodology used to calculate it, alongside concerns about Maharashtra’s agricultural and water situation.
- When
- Pawar made the remarks on Thursday; the GDP figure covers the April–June quarter, and Modi’s possible Baramati visit was indicated for around October 16.
- Where
- Baramati, Maharashtra, with the GDP dispute concerning India’s national economy.
- Why
- Pawar and other critics said the growth figure may conceal inflation and weakness in the real economy, while the government defended the data as accurate.
Critics of the GDP figures
Government and ruling-party defenders
GDP methodology and economic reality
Critics of the GDP figures
Sharad Pawar, Congress, and Subhash Chandra Garg questioned revised GDP calculation methods, saying the reported growth may conceal inflation and a slowing real economy.
Government and ruling-party defenders
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation defended its data collection and calculations, while Kiren Rijiju said the opposition was unable to accept India’s economic progress.
Interpretation of the economy
Critics of the GDP figures
Pawar said the Prime Minister and Finance Minister were projecting an overly positive picture while ignoring inflation, shrinking household savings, and underlying economic problems.
Government and ruling-party defenders
The Union government presented the 7.8% figure as evidence of robust economic performance and rejected claims that the data created a false narrative.
- Reported GDP growth
- 7.8% for the April–June quarter
- Main critic
- Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (SP)
- Government position
- MoSPI said its data collection and calculation protocols accurately reflected quarterly economic performance.
- Opposition criticism
- Congress called the revised GDP calculation approach a “game of numbers,” while Subhash Chandra Garg said it could inflate growth.
- Maharashtra rainfall
- Pawar warned that severe rainfall deficits could affect drinking water and sowing operations.
- Possible Modi visit
- Narendra Modi is likely to visit Baramati around October 16, according to Pawar.