Modi with minister of statistics and programme implementation Sadananda Gowda |
In a surprise move, the Government of India has withdrawn from its website the Report of the Committee on Real Sector Statistics, published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India.
The report busted the myth that the rate of economic growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been higher than the earlier two terms of the UPA government headed by Manmohan Singh.
The report was published on the ministry’s website on July 25, but became controversial after its contents began being known over the last three days. It triggered a war of words between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, after which the ministry issued a statement saying that this was “not an official estimate.”
The report, prepared by a government-backed panel under economist Sudipto Mundle, concluded that India grew at a record 10.8 per cent in 2010-11 when Dr Manmohan Singh was prime minister. It compared growth rates between the old series, 2004-05, and the new series based on 2011-12 prices. Government sources and independent economists said the report, which became public just ahead of the 2019 elections, could become a cause for concern for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party.
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