IMF’s Georgieva sees no risk of sharp downturn in India, flags financial sector as key watchpoint

India’s economy is expected to remain a bright spot in an increasingly uncertain global environment, with growth running at more than twice the global average, supported by strong underlying fundamentals, IMF's Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday.

Speaking on the outlook, Georgieva said there is no indication of any sharp or disruptive downturn in India’s growth trajectory, even as global conditions remain volatile due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply-side pressures from the West Asia war.

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“India’s growth is more than two times higher than the average normal growth, and that comes because of the strength of fundamentals,” she said, pointing to macroeconomic stability and sustained domestic demand as key drivers.

However, she flagged the need for vigilance around financial sector dynamics, noting that sections of the financial community currently appear to be holding significant liquidity and relative strength.

"Of course, there is one issue that we all need to be very watchful, and it is financials community that for now seems to be holding relative wealth," she added.

Global debt risks rise as war deepens economic strain

The relatively strong outlook for India comes against a far more fragile global backdrop.

Global public debt is projected to cross 100% of GDP by 2029, returning to levels last seen after World War II, as successive shocks continue to erode fiscal space.

Georgieva warned that the ongoing West Asia conflict is adding a fresh layer of strain, unsettling energy markets and trade flows at a time when many governments are already stretched.

Unlike the COVID-19 crisis, which delivered a sharp but contained shock, the current phase reflects the cumulative impact of repeated disruptions - from pandemic aftereffects to geopolitical tensions and now conflict-driven supply risks.

This, she noted, is creating a more prolonged and complex pressure on public finances, leaving policymakers with limited room to respond. Governments are increasingly being forced to balance fiscal credibility with the need to support vulnerable populations.