Montek Singh pegs growth at 5.5% in current fiscal, hopes for 7% in 2013-14

Indian economy would grow at a rate of between 5 and 5.5% in current fiscal and could expand by 7% in 2013-14, said Plan panel Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

"It (GDP growth rate) would be somewhere between 5 and 5.5%. If everything worked perfectly, I would not rule out 7% next year (2013-14)", Ahluwalia said.

His comments came after the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) has projected 5% economic growth this fiscal in its advance estimates released earlier this month.

In best case scenario the growth could climb to "5.5%" this fiscal, he said, adding "if there was strength in the recovery then many more signs would have been evident".

Economic growth in 2011-12 slipped to 6.2% from 9.3% a year ago mainly on account of global factors and subdued investor sentiments.

Gross Domestic Production (GDP) of the country has grown by 5.5% in April-June quarter and further declined to 5.3% in July-September quarter.

The recent industrial production data which reflects the health of mainly the manufacturing sector, has also portrayed a dismal picture. Manufacturing constitutes almost 75% of the IIP.

The factory output measured in terms of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for December, 2012, has contracted by 0.6% for second straight month. IIP declined by 0.8% in November 2012.