New Delhi, Dec. 2 -- Even as we bask in the glory of our 8.2% GDP growth for the second quarter of 2025-26-highest in the past six quarters, fastest among major economies and so on-the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Annual Staff Report has taken some of the shine off.

In its report for India, part of its 2025 Article IV consultation, released just a few days before the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) released that cracker of a growth figure, the Fund has retained its 'C' grade for India's national account statistics (or GDP numbers) on a scale from A to D. In the IMF's view, Indian data has "some shortcomings that somewhat hamper surveillance."

That delightfully vague statement would leave most trackers ...