Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit out at critics of India’s latest economic growth figures, saying those who were responsible for pushing the country into the “Fragile Five” were finding the latest 7.8% quarterly GDP growth difficult to digest.

Addressing the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi, Modi said the strong growth figure had boosted confidence in the Indian economy despite continuing geopolitical tensions in West Asia and challenges facing global trade.

“The 7.8 per cent quarterly growth has boosted the country’s confidence. Those who became infamous for pushing India into the ‘Fragile Five’ are finding these figures difficult to digest,” Modi said.

India recorded 7.8% year-on-year GDP growth in the April-June quarter of 2026, exceeding market expectations and the Reserve Bank of India’s projection of 7%. The growth was supported by stronger private investment, manufacturing activity, services and domestic consumption.

Modi contrasted the present economic situation with 2013, when India was grouped among the so-called “Fragile Five” emerging economies considered vulnerable to external financial shocks.

“The world was calling India one of the ‘Fragile Five’. Today, the world is watching India become the fastest-growing major economy,” he said.

The Prime Minister also referred to a recent sovereign credit rating upgrade for India by a Japanese rating agency, describing it as another positive indication of the country's economic strength.

The 7.8% growth rate has, however, triggered debate among economists and opposition leaders. Critics have questioned aspects of the revised GDP methodology and raised concerns over whether the headline growth figure fully reflects developments in employment, investment and other economic indicators. The government has defended the revised methodology, saying the changes were based on updated data sources and improved statistical methods.

Modi said India's ability to register strong growth amid geopolitical tensions, global trade uncertainties and other external challenges demonstrated the resilience and potential of the economy.

He also said economic expansion was creating new employment opportunities and strengthening confidence in India's development trajectory.

Taking another swipe at his critics, Modi said those who viewed the economic situation as a “half-empty glass” in 2013 continued to maintain the same outlook.

“For them, the glass will always be half empty. I am talking about the glass, not about anything else remaining empty,” he said.

The Prime Minister had earlier welcomed the 7.8% growth figure, describing the latest economic data as a sign of rising confidence in the Indian economy.

The remarks came as the government seeks to highlight India's economic resilience at a time when global markets continue to face uncertainty from geopolitical tensions, elevated energy prices and trade-related challenges.