Growth and borrowing

How fast India's economy has grown each year after inflation, beside how much the Union government borrows to cover the gap between its spending and income.

Two numbers come up in almost every budget speech: how fast the economy is growing, and how much the government is borrowing. This story shows both over the years so they can be read side by side.

Real GDP growth

Change on the year before, after inflation, by base year

Real GDP growth-10010202012-132015-162017-182020-212022-232012-13: 5.5 %2013-14: 6.4 %2014-15: 7.4 %2015-16: 8 %2016-17: 8.3 %2017-18: 6.8 %2018-19: 6.5 %2019-20: 3.9 %2020-21: -5.8 %2021-22: 9.7 %2022-23: 7.6 %2023-24: 9.2 %2024-25: 6.5 %2025-26: 7.4 %2023-24: 7.32 %2024-25: 7.19 %2025-26: 7.7 %
2025-262011-12 base7.4 %2022-23 base7.7 %

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Real GDP growth-10010202012-132019-202012-13: 5.5 %2013-14: 6.4 %2014-15: 7.4 %2015-16: 8 %2016-17: 8.3 %2017-18: 6.8 %2018-19: 6.5 %2019-20: 3.9 %2020-21: -5.8 %2021-22: 9.7 %2022-23: 7.6 %2023-24: 9.2 %2024-25: 6.5 %2025-26: 7.4 %2023-24: 7.32 %2024-25: 7.19 %2025-26: 7.7 %
2025-262011-12 base7.4 %2022-23 base7.7 %

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7.4 % · 2025-26

  • 2011-12 base
  • 2022-23 base
From the Ministry of Statistics (MoSPI). Each base year is its own line.Source: National Accounts Statistics 2026 — Statement 1.1: Key aggregates of National Accounts (at current and constant prices), Deshboard: Real GDP growth (%) · Deshboard official series
The data behind this chart
Financial yearReal GDP growth, 2011-12 base (%)Estimate, 2011-12 baseReal GDP growth, 2022-23 base (%)Estimate, 2022-23 base
2012-135.5TRE——
2013-146.4TRE——
2014-157.4TRE——
2015-168TRE——
2016-178.3TRE——
2017-186.8TRE——
2018-196.5TRE——
2019-203.9TRE——
2020-21-5.8TRE——
2021-229.7SRE——
2022-237.6SRE——
2023-249.2FRE7.324585RE
2024-256.5PE7.193863RE
2025-267.4FAE7.7PE

Two base years, never joined

MoSPI publishes GDP on a 2011-12 base and, from the 2023-24 financial year, on a new 2022-23 base. The two series measure the economy in different ways, so they are shown as separate lines. A change from one line to the other is not a real change in growth.

Recent years are early estimates. MoSPI revises them as more data arrives, and every point says which estimate it is.

Fiscal deficit as a share of GDP

Union government, per cent of GDP

Fiscal deficit as a share of GDP0510152005-062009-102013-142017-182021-222005-06: 4.1 % of GDP2006-07: 3.5 % of GDP2007-08: 2.7 % of GDP2008-09: 6 % of GDP2009-10: 6.4 % of GDP2010-11: 4.9 % of GDP2011-12: 5.7 % of GDP2012-13: 4.8 % of GDP2013-14: 4.4 % of GDP2014-15: 4.1 % of GDP2015-16: 3.9 % of GDP2016-17: 3.5 % of GDP2017-18: 3.5 % of GDP2018-19: 3.4 % of GDP2019-20: 4.6 % of GDP2020-21: 9.2 % of GDP2021-22: 6.7 % of GDP2022-23: 6.4 % of GDP2023-24: 5.6 % of GDP2024-25: 4.8 % of GDP2025-26: 4.4 % of GDP
2025-26ActualNot available for this dateRevised EstimateNot available for this dateBudget Estimate4.4 % of GDP

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Fiscal deficit as a share of GDP0510152005-062015-162005-06: 4.1 % of GDP2006-07: 3.5 % of GDP2007-08: 2.7 % of GDP2008-09: 6 % of GDP2009-10: 6.4 % of GDP2010-11: 4.9 % of GDP2011-12: 5.7 % of GDP2012-13: 4.8 % of GDP2013-14: 4.4 % of GDP2014-15: 4.1 % of GDP2015-16: 3.9 % of GDP2016-17: 3.5 % of GDP2017-18: 3.5 % of GDP2018-19: 3.4 % of GDP2019-20: 4.6 % of GDP2020-21: 9.2 % of GDP2021-22: 6.7 % of GDP2022-23: 6.4 % of GDP2023-24: 5.6 % of GDP2024-25: 4.8 % of GDP2025-26: 4.4 % of GDP
2025-26ActualNot available for this dateRevised EstimateNot available for this dateBudget Estimate4.4 % of GDP

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4.4 % of GDP · 2025-26

  • Actual
  • Revised Estimate
  • Budget Estimate
From Union Budget documents.Source: Budget at a Glance 2025-2026, Deshboard: Union fiscal deficit (% of GDP) · Deshboard official series
The data behind this chart
Financial yearActual (% of GDP)Provisional Actual (% of GDP)Revised Estimate (% of GDP)Budget Estimate (% of GDP)
2005-064.1———
2006-073.5———
2007-082.7———
2008-096———
2009-106.4———
2010-114.9———
2011-125.7———
2012-134.8———
2013-144.4———
2014-154.1———
2015-163.9———
2016-173.5———
2017-183.5———
2018-193.4———
2019-204.6———
2020-219.2———
2021-226.7———
2022-236.4———
2023-245.6———
2024-25——4.8—
2025-26———4.4

What the fiscal deficit is

The fiscal deficit is the gap between everything the Union government spends and everything it receives other than borrowing. It is shown as a share of GDP so that years of very different size can be compared.