New Delhi: PM Chairs Economic Advisory Council Meeting #Gallery

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened his Economic Advisory Council (EAC-PM) today, signaling a sharpened focus on bolstering domestic growth amidst persistent global economic headwinds. The high-level meeting in New Delhi saw detailed discussions on accelerating economic transformation and refining long-term development priorities, particularly emphasizing reforms to enhance both 'ease of living' for citizens and 'ease of doing business' for enterprises. This comes just a day after India posted a robust 7.7% GDP growth for FY26, defying broader international slowdowns. The urgency of the discussions was underscored by the Council's assessment of the ongoing West Asia conflict and its potential ripple effects on India's energy markets, trade flows, and overall macroeconomic stability. While India's recent economic performance has been resilient, with Q4 FY26 GDP expanding by 7.8%, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has tempered expectations, revising down its FY27 growth forecast to 6.6% and projecting higher inflation at 5.1% due to elevated commodity prices. This policy balancing act reflects the delicate interplay between maintaining growth momentum and mitigating external shocks, as the RBI maintained its repo rate at 5.25% amidst these uncertainties. Moving forward, observers will keenly watch for the concrete policy initiatives emerging from these deliberations, especially those addressing structural reforms and energy security, which are critical for India's sustained growth trajectory. The government's continued push for proactive planning and long-term economic reforms, coupled with efforts to deepen financial markets, aims to reinforce India's position as a resilient growth engine in an increasingly complex global environment. The focus remains on strategic interventions to ensure stability and prosperity against a backdrop of global volatility.