Despite rising Covid cases lockdowns are unlikely: RBI Guv

TIL Desk/Business/New Delhi/ The rising COVID-19 infections across the country are a matter of concern, but it may not impact the ongoing economic revival as one does not foresee lockdowns, Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Thursday. The economic revival will continue “unabated”, Das said, asserting that there is no need for a downward revision of RBI’s 10.5 per cent GDP growth forecast for FY22.

Speaking at Times Network’s India Economic Conclave, Das said, “We have ‘insurance’ to protect economic revival like a fast-paced vaccination drive, greater ability among people to follow COVID protocols”, and one does not see lockdowns as well.”The renewed surge in COVID cases in many parts of the country is a matter of concern,” the governor said.

“I would feel that the revival of economic activity, which has happened, should continue unabated going forward. “My understanding and our preliminary analysis shows that the growth rate next year – the 10.5 per cent which we had given – would not require a downward revision,” he added. It can be noted that India reported over 50,000 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday with states like Maharashtra reporting newer highs, and a new strain of virus has also been found.