India overtakes UK to become 5th largest economy in the world
Deccan ChronicleNEW DELHI: India has overtaken the UK to become the world's fifth-largest economy and is now behind only the US, China, Japan and Germany, according to IMF projections. "Proud moment for India to pip the UK, our colonial ruler, as the 5th largest economy: India $3.5 trillion vs UK $3.2 trillion. India's GDP expanded 13.5 per cent in the April-June quarter, the quickest pace in a year, to retain the world's fastest growing economy tag but rising interest costs and the looming threat of a recession in major world economies could slow the momentum in the coming quarters. Gross domestic product growth of 13.5 per cent year-on-year compares to a 20.1 per cent expansion a year back and 4.09 per cent growth in the previous three months to March, according to official data released earlier this week. The growth, though lower than the Reserve Bank of India estimate of 16.2 per cent, was fuelled by consumption and signalled a revival of domestic demand, particularly in the services sector.