Washington: India continues to play a crucial role in powering the global economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday, noting that the country’s third-quarter growth exceeded expectations, raising the likelihood of an upward revision to its growth forecast.
“What we have seen in India is that India is a key growth engine for the world,” Julie Kozack, Director of the IMF’s Communications Department, told reporters during a news conference, responding to a question on India’s growth outlook in 2025.
IMF Sees Strong Momentum in India
Kozack said the IMF’s most recent assessment, conducted as part of its Article IV Staff Report, had projected India’s economic growth at 6.6 per cent for the 2025–26 fiscal year, largely supported by robust domestic consumption.
“What we have seen since then is that the third-quarter growth in India came out stronger than expected,” she said, adding that this development increases the likelihood of an upgrade to the IMF’s growth forecast.
World Economic Outlook Update Next Week
The IMF is scheduled to release an updated edition of its World Economic Outlook (WEO) next week, which will include revised growth projections for India and other major economies.
“We will have a revised growth number for India at that time,” Kozack said. “But the bottom line for us on India is that it has been a key driver of global growth, and growth has been quite robust.”
Positive Outlook Amid Global Uncertainty
Kozack emphasised that the IMF’s overall assessment of India remains strongly positive, particularly at a time when many regions of the world are facing economic uncertainty.
The upcoming WEO update is expected to provide a clearer picture of how recent economic data has reshaped the Fund’s outlook for India and the broader global economy.