CEA Nageswaran Defends India's GDP Data, Slams Critics for "Inferiority Complex"

• Chief Economic Advisor Ananth Nageswaran defended India's Q2 GDP data, stating it's not overstated.
• Nageswaran criticized those who question GDP numbers only when they show positive surprises, not during downturns like Q1FY21's 25% contraction.
• He highlighted that "under-informed, half-baked questions" are used to sow doubt about India's economic figures.
• The CEA pointed out a tendency to view India's statistical methods as "inferior to others," urging a change in this mindset.
• His remarks were made at a Ministry of Statistics event discussing new base year rollouts from February 2026.

Why It Matters: CEA Nageswaran asserts India's GDP data is accurate, urging an end to self-doubt and biased criticism.