How are India’s ‘very significant' reforms impacting global growth?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India’s reforms are pivotal for its rapid economic growth.
- The IMF has upgraded India's growth forecast to 6.6%.
- India is recognized as one of the fastest-growing economies globally.
- Trade integration is essential for maximizing India's potential.
- Continued reforms are critical for sustaining growth.
Washington, Oct 16 (NationPress) The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, remarked on Thursday that India has embarked on “extremely important reforms” in its economic framework, contributing significantly to global economic growth.
During a press briefing on the sidelines of the annual IMF-World Bank meetings in Washington, Georgieva highlighted India’s reformative actions across various sectors.
“India stands as one of the fastest-growing economies worldwide, and due to its substantial size, it plays a vital role in global growth. The country has achieved this status through substantial reforms, including tax reforms, investments in infrastructure, advancements in digital infrastructure, and improvements in road connectivity, which have fueled this growth potential,” she explained.
The IMF recently upgraded India’s growth forecast to 6.6 percent, reflecting an increase of 0.2 percentage points, as stated in its latest Global Economic Outlook report.
According to the report, India’s robust growth in the first quarter of 2025 is counterbalancing the rise in US tariffs on imports from the nation.
“Growth in India is expected to reach 6.6 percent in 2025… This is an increase from the July WEO update, as the strong performance in the first quarter more than offsets the hike in the US effective tariff rate on imports from India since July,” the report detailed.
The Indian economy recorded a remarkable growth rate of 7.8 percent in its April-July quarter, exceeding all forecasts.
On Monday, Georgieva described India’s growth trajectory as “remarkable,” commending the government for its policy and tax reforms.
“I hold a strong belief in India due to the audacity with which they pursue initiatives that others deem impossible. For instance, digital identity. Many claimed it was unfeasible to have universal digital IDs, yet they proved the skeptics wrong,” she remarked.
On Thursday, Georgieva encouraged India to “strive for a greater level of trade integration with its partners.”
“India still has some trade barriers. Tariffs and certain restrictions persist, so it’s essential to consider the desired direction. Do we wish to maintain and enhance these restrictions, or should we move towards greater integration? In terms of relations with the EU, the indication appears to be a willingness to engage in trade with others,” she commented.
She also urged New Delhi to “continue pursuing what has proven effective… to keep advancing reforms.”