The GDP or gross domestic product economy is expected to grow at 6.5 per cent this fiscal (2017-18), according to the first advance estimates of the Central Statistics Office. The economy had clocked a 7.1 per cent growth rate in 2016-17. The estimate is crucial as the finance ministry prepares Budget 2018, which is set to be presented on February 1. "The growth in GDP during 2017-18 is estimated at 6.5 per cent as compared to the growth rate of 7.1 per cent in 2016-17," said the Central Statistics Office (CSO) while announcing the first advance estimates of National Income 2017-18. The growth of real Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2017-18 is anticipated at 6.1 per cent, against 6.6 per cent in the previous year.
