India’s Rating Upgrade Reflects Growth Story, Says NITI Aayog

India’s credit rating upgrade by Moody's is a reflection of the country’s growth story, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said today and expressed hope that other global agencies such as S&P and Fitch would follow suit.

The U.S. based Moody’s upgraded India’s sovereign rating after a gap of 13 years to Baa2, with ‘stable’ outlook, from Baa3 earlier, citing improved growth prospects driven by economic and institutional reforms.

Also Read: Impact Of Reforms Will Materialise In Coming Years For India, Moody’s Says

Former Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said in a tweet: “Moody’s upgrade India’s credit rating after 13 years. A clear recognition of economic & institutional reforms; well paced shift towards formalisation of the economy; improvement in business climate;positive growth outlook.”

In 2015, the rating outlook was changed to 'positive' from ‘stable’.

The ‘Baa3’ rating was the lowest investment grade – just a notch above ‘junk’ status.

Also Read: What Moody’s Rating Upgrade Means For India: BQ Explains

In a statement this morning, the credit ratings agency said, “The decision to upgrade the ratings is underpinned by Moody's expectation that continued progress on economic and institutional reforms will, over time, enhance India's high growth potential and its large and stable financing base for government debt, and will likely contribute to a gradual decline in the general government debt burden over the medium term.”

It cautioned however that high debt burden remains a constraint on the country’s credit profile.

Also Read: Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Says Moody’s India Upgrade A Fitting Reply To Modi’s Critics