IMF Communications Director Julie Kozack affirmed that India represents a significant engine for global economic expansion. Projections indicate India’s growth rate will remain at 7 percent for both FY 2026-2027 and FY 2027-2028, it was conveyed. India currently possesses substantial growth momentum, evidenced by high-frequency indicators and recent data. Nevertheless, weather events remain a key downside risk for India, as they do for numerous countries vulnerable to the super El Niño phenomenon, she observed. Consequently, adverse weather conditions, attributable in part to an El Niño, could diminish crop yields in India and potentially dampen economic activity, particularly in rural regions. Such conditions may also contribute to elevated food price inflation, impacting household purchasing power. However, current assessments reveal robust growth momentum in India, reinforcing its role as an engine of growth for the global economy, she added.