cea rejects criticism on first quarter growth data

New Delhi: Chief Economic AdvisorV Anantha Nageswaranhas rejected criticism of ‘statistical discrepancy’ in the first quarter GDP data, saying when the same statistical authority reported the severest contraction in the first quarter of 2020, the naysayers had called it credible as it suited their narrative. “In Q1 of 2023-24, the discrepancy of 2.8 per cent has a plus sign. This indicates that the expenditure side has explained only 97.2 per cent of the income side. It does not mean that the 2.8 per cent that has yet to be explained does not exist,” Nageswaran said in an op-ed article. “It exists and lends itself to being explained in subsequent quarters. Similarly, the preceding eight quarters have shown negative discrepancies. It means that the expenditure side has been over-explained and needs to be reconciled,” the article co-authored by senior government economist Rajiv Mishra said. Over a long period, the negatives and positives offset each other, it said, adding the CAGR of real GDP was 5.3 per cent annualised.