Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Rijiju Challenges Congress Criticism of India’s GDP Growth
India reported that its economy grew by 7.8 per cent from April to June.
This was slower than the 8.6 per cent growth recorded in the previous quarter.
However, the result was higher than many people expected.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the growth a “herculean feat.”
Congress questioned whether the number showed the economy’s true condition.
It cited Subhash Chandra Garg, who said changes to last year’s GDP increased the latest figure by about 10.3 per cent.
Garg said growth at current prices would have been 2.6 per cent without that revision.
Congress also said investment sentiment was weak.
Kiren Rijiju rejected the criticism and accused Congress of losing touch with reality.
India’s economy grew 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter of fiscal 2026-27.
Growth slowed from 8.6 per cent in the previous quarter but exceeded expectations amid concerns over the war in West Asia.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju accused Congress of being intoxicated or disconnected from economic reality after it questioned the GDP figures.
Congress cited former finance secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, who said revisions to last year’s GDP raised the current-quarter figure by around 10.3 per cent.
Congress called the growth figure distorted and said it failed to reflect depressed investment sentiment, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “herculean feat.”
- Who
- Union minister Kiren Rijiju, the Indian National Congress, Jairam Ramesh, Subhash Chandra Garg and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were involved in or cited in the debate.
- What
- Rijiju criticized Congress for questioning reported 7.8 per cent GDP growth, while Congress challenged the calculation and significance of the figure.
- When
- The remarks and responses were reported on September 2, 2026, after the April-June quarter figures were released.
- Where
- The statements were made in posts on X and in media comments; the reports were datelined New Delhi.
- Why
- Congress argued that revisions to earlier GDP data and weak investment sentiment made the headline figure misleading, while Rijiju and Modi presented the growth as evidence of economic resilience.
Congress’s View
Government’s View
Reliability of GDP figures
Congress’s View
Congress said revisions to earlier data and alleged statistical manipulation made the reported growth rate misleading and disconnected from ground realities.
Government’s View
Kiren Rijiju defended the reported growth and accused Congress of blindly rejecting India’s economic progress.
Meaning of 7.8 per cent growth
Congress’s View
Congress said the figure was not an economic spring and did not reflect depressed investment sentiment.
Government’s View
Rijiju and Modi presented the result as a strong or resilient performance despite concerns linked to the war in West Asia.
Effect of GDP revisions
Congress’s View
Subhash Chandra Garg said revising the previous year’s GDP by about Rs 6 trillion significantly increased the apparent current-quarter growth rate.
Government’s View
The reports do not provide a detailed government response to Garg’s specific calculation, but Rijiju and Modi defended the broader growth result.
- Reported GDP growth
- 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter of fiscal 2026-27.
- Previous-quarter growth
- 8.6 per cent.
- Rijiju’s response
- He asked whether Congress was in a state of deep intoxication or had lost touch with ground reality because of opposition to India’s growth.
- Congress’s response
- Congress said public relations could polish the GDP picture but not the economy itself, and described the figure as distorted.
- GDP revision claim
- Subhash Chandra Garg said revising the previous year’s GDP by about Rs 6 trillion increased the current-year first-quarter figure by around 10.3 per cent.
- Alternative calculation
- Garg said growth at current prices would have been 2.6 per cent without the revision to the previous year’s GDP.
- Prime minister’s reaction
- Narendra Modi called the reported growth a “herculean feat.”
