Explained: India’s GDP at a 6 year low and bank mergers

Weak manufacturing and consumption numbers dragged the country’s GDP growth to a six year low of 5 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. The GDP growth rate has now slowed for the fifth consecutive quarter . Ishan Bakshi, who is part of the editorial team, explains the reasons for the slump and how this number makes it clearer that the economic slowdown is more serious than we imagined. Next, we talk about the move to merge several public sector banks. This move comes in the midst of a bad loan crisis in the banking sector and an economic slowdown that is reflected in many core sectors of the economy. Consulting Editor Shaji Vikraman unpacks what led to the bank merger, why now and if there are any downsides to the move.