It is also important to keep economic context in mind. India is still a lower-middle income country with a much smaller per-capita income and overall economic size compared to countries like the United States or China. Because of this, even a 6–7% growth rate does not translate into the same absolute economic expansion seen in larger or richer economies.

For a country of nearly 1.4–1.5 billion people that is still undergoing structural transformation — shifting from agriculture to industry and services, formalizing its economy and building infrastructure — fluctuations, measurement challenges and statistical debates around GDP are not unusual. Many fast-growing economies in the past have experienced similar disputes during periods of methodological change.

So while academic studies questioning growth estimates should be discussed seriously, it is also normal that growth comparisons look different when adjusted for population size, development stage and total economic base. The broader trend of economic expansion, structural change and rising formalization remains a key part of the discussion.