Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam on Friday lauded India’s first-quarter GDP growth figures, describing them as a “slap on the face of the Opposition” and proof of the country’s strong economic performance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The BJP leader noted that the GDP numbers had beaten projections, underlining India’s resilience amid global economic turbulence.
“The GDP figures are in, and they are another slap on the face of the Opposition. The numbers have exceeded expectations and reflect our rapid growth. This is the outcome of PM Modi’s decisions over the last 11 years, which have ensured that India’s economy stays strong even as global economies struggle,” Islam said.
On the potential fallout of US President Donald Trump’s proposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, Islam admitted there could be short-term challenges but remained confident that the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ policy would cushion the long-term impact.
“Yes, there will be a short-term impact of Trump’s tariffs. But in the long term, PM Modi’s Aatmnirbhar Bharat initiative will mitigate the effects,” he asserted.
According to the latest data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO), India’s real GDP grew by 7.8 per cent in Q1 of FY 2025-26, compared to 6.5 per cent in the same quarter last year, while nominal GDP rose by 8.8 per cent.
The agriculture sector recorded a growth of 3.7 per cent, a notable rise from 1.5 per cent in the previous year’s first quarter. The secondary sector also performed strongly, with manufacturing (7.7 per cent) and construction (7.6 per cent) registering robust growth.
Islam also took a swipe at critics who predicted an economic downturn following Trump’s tariff announcement. “Those who thought India’s economy would collapse are now proven wrong. The economy is in strong hands, backed by the Modi government’s reforms,” he said.
As per NSO estimates, Real GDP at Constant Prices stood at Rs 47.89 lakh crore in Q1 of FY 2025-26, up from Rs 44.42 lakh crore in the corresponding quarter of FY 2024-25.