FACTS ABOUT INDIAN ECONOMY

• The overall growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at factor cost at constant (2004-05) prices (real GDP) for 2013-14 is placed at 4.9 per cent as compared to 4.5 per cent for 2012-13, as per the Advance Estimates released on February 7, 2014. The GDP growth rate is placed at 4.4 per cent, 4.8 per cent and 4.7 per cent respectively in the first, second and third quarters of 2013-14.
• Eight core infrastructure industries registered a growth of 2.5 per cent in March 2014. During 2013-14, these sectors grew by 2.6 per cent.
• The total value of India’s listed companies is expected to cross US$ 1.5 trillion mark within the next 12 months. India has also entered the top 10 club of countries by market capitalisation.
• The total merger and acquisitions (M&A) activities of Indian companies in April 2014 were valued at US$ 6.9 billion (49 deals) as compared to US$ 1.8 billion (42 deals) during the corresponding period of 2013, according to a recent report by Grant Thornton.
• India is set to record highest ever food grain production. The Government of India revised its estimate, stating that the country would collectively produce 264.28 million tonnes (MT) of food grain as compared to 257.13 MT last year.
• Foreign exchange (Forex) reserves of India grew by US$ 1.97 billion to reach US$ 313.83 billion for the week ending May 9, 2014, according to the data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Citi Research - a division of Citigroup Global Markets, has raised its India gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 6.5 per cent, on expectations of an accelerated pickup in investments, for 2015-16.
• The stakes held by foreign institutional investors (FII) in Indian companies touched a record high in the fourth quarter (Q4) of FY14. The estimated value of FII holdings in India stands at US$ 279 billion.
• Merchandise exports from India touched a five month high in April 2014 at US$ 25.6 billion as compared to US$ 24.35 billion in April 2013 registering a growth of 5.3 per cent.
• A total of 54 Indian companies have made their mark in the Forbes’ annual list of the world’s 2,000 largest and most powerful public companies.