IMF's 'C' grade for India: It's about old data, not growth doubts
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has cleared the air: the IMF didn't question India's strong GDP numbers.
Instead, their 'C' grade is just because we're still using a 2011-12 base year for our national accounts—a technicality that's getting fixed in 2026 with an update to the 2022-23 base year.
What's behind the 'C' grade?
The IMF flagged issues like outdated data and some gaps in how India measures its economy.
But even with these technical hiccups, India's economy is still growing fast—July-September quarter GDP hit 8.2%, and the IMF expects a solid 6.5% growth next year.
They've actually praised India's macro stability and private sector energy.
Data upgrades are on the way
India is already rolling out new reforms to bring our stats up to global standards.
Once we switch to the new base year in 2026, expect more accurate numbers.