Davos/IBNS, Jan. 22 -- Former International Monetary Fund (IMF) Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath on Wednesday flagged India's worsening pollution crisis as a major economic challenge, saying its impact far outweighs that of trade tariffs on the country.

Speaking at a World Economic Forum (WEF) session in Davos, Gopinath said pollution-related deaths in India are alarmingly high and pose a serious deterrent for foreign investors looking to deploy capital in the country.

The former IMF Chief Economist described pollution as one of several factors that make India a "challenging place to do business", calling for greater deregulation alongside urgent environmental reforms.

Now a professor at Harvard University, Gopinath urged the Ind...