Second COVID-19 wave could spark greater uncertainty, govt will respond with fiscal steps if required: NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman

The country needs to prepare for “greater uncertainty” in terms of consumer as well as investor sentiments due to the second wave of coronavirus infections, and the government will respond with fiscal measures as and when required, NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar said on April 18.

While acknowledging that the present situation has become far more difficult than it was in the past due to rising coronavirus infections, Mr. Kumar remained hopeful that the country’s economy will grow 11% in the current fiscal ending March 31, 2022.

India is grappling with spiralling number of COVID-19 cases as well as related deaths, forcing many State governments to put in place restrictions on movement of people.

According to Mr. Kumar, India was on the verge of defeating COVID-19 completely but some new strains from the U.K. and other countries have made the situation far more difficult this time around.

“Apart from their direct impact on some sectors like the services sector, the second wave will increase the uncertainty in the economic environment which can have wider indirect effects on economic activities. So, we need to prepare for greater uncertainty, both in consumer and investor sentiments,” Mr. Kumar told PTI.

To a query on whether the government is considering coming up with a fresh stimulus, the NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman said this question has to be answered after the Finance Ministry analyses both the direct and indirect impact of the second COVID-19 wave.

“And as you have seen from RBI’s response, the expansionary policy stance has been continued and I am sure the government will respond with necessary fiscal measures also as and when it is necessary,” Mr. Kumar said.

Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank of India left the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4% but maintained an accommodative stance to boost the economy.

In 2020, the Union government had announced the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ package to perk up the economy and the overall stimulus was estimated to be worth around ₹27.1 lakh crore, which was more than 13% of the national GDP.

Regarding growth in the current financial year, Kumar said that various estimates suggest that it will be around 11%.

In its last policy review, the RBI projected a growth of 10.5% for FY’22 while the Economic Survey, tabled in the Parliament earlier this year, estimated 11% growth during the year.

The country’s economy is projected to contract by 8% in 2020-21, as per official estimates.