India, Sept. 2 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday highlighted India's latest economic performance, pointing to GDP growth of 7.8% in the first quarter of the year "despite challenges driven by economic self-interest." The comment was seen as a veiled reference to rising protectionist measures worldwide, particularly US tariff moves.

Modi cited the first quarter GDP numbers and said India has again performed better than every expectation and estimation. "...many issues are playing out in almost every economy, and challenges are stemming from self-interest. In that environment, India has shown a progress of 7.8% GDP," he said.

Modi said the pace of growth was particularly notable when many other economies are grappling with slower...