New Delhi
Adult healthcare risks, if left unaddressed, could impact long-term health and productivity outcomes, the Finance Ministry’s Monthly Economic Survey said on Tuesday, while expressing confidence in the strength of India’s economy with a cautionary note on an expected weak monsoon.
Citing the recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6), the report noted significant achievements in child nutrition, women’s empowerment and public health infrastructure. However, she said higher rates of overweight and obesity, high blood sugar and high blood pressure among adults indicate increased risks of non-communicable diseases.
“Alongside education and skills acquisition, investments in health and nutrition are equally essential for human capital… Areas of concern are obesity and diabetes among a broad cross-section of the adult population,” the report said.
Despite encouraging improvements in child undernutrition and institutional factors, the Sixth National Health Security Report also highlights the dual health challenge among adults (aged 15-49 years), where overweight and obesity coexist alongside a high prevalence of high blood sugar and high blood pressure, the report said, emphasizing the need to promote healthy diets and reduce the intake of ultra-processed foods (UPF).
However, the June 2026 Monthly Economic Review, prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), expressed confidence in the fundamental strength of India’s domestic economic activities despite global headwinds. The Indian economy recorded strong growth of 7.7% in the period 2025-2026, supported by strong performance in the manufacturing and services sectors, along with healthy consumption and investment demand.
“Economic activity maintained its momentum in the first months of 2026-27, as reflected in high-frequency indicators such as e-way bill generation, PMI indices and electricity consumption, although some moderation was seen in selected indicators,” he said. These factors include core industries, fuel consumption, air passenger traffic, consumer confidence, and labor market indicators that indicate some decline in momentum.
Supportive reservoir levels and availability of adequate fertilizers continued to provide favorable conditions for agricultural activity. However, the weak advance of the southwest monsoon has affected kharif planting and lack of monsoon rainfall is a concern. “Among the many things India needs to build buffers for in the coming years, water may be at the top of the list,” she added.
Now attention is turning to the impact of a weak monsoon. While monsoon rains are expected to improve in July and August, experts point to increasing unpredictability of rainfall patterns. Among others, water conservation, including recycling, and utilization of budgetary allocations for Jal Jeevan Mission may now be high on the list of policy priorities.
Conflict in West Asia and lack of monsoon rainfall (so far) also underscore the need to reorient India’s agricultural pricing policies to incentivize the cultivation of climate-resilient crops and discourage the cultivation of water-intensive crops. He added that the continuing stream of destabilizing global and climate events and developments is a reminder of the challenges likely to arise in the coming years and the need for policy to remain at the forefront.
He added that the recent easing in global commodity markets, the correction in crude oil prices, and the decline in prices of key inputs such as urea, may help ease imported inflationary pressures. He added that although it may take some time for global supply chains and trade flows to return to pre-conflict levels, lower international commodity prices are expected to provide some protection against further price pressures.
According to the report, the external sector remains supported by strong export performance, resilient FDI inflows, and comfortable foreign exchange reserves. He added that the decline in the recent escalation of tensions in West Asia and progress in negotiations between the United States and Iran contributed to the correction of Brent crude prices, providing some relief from external and inflationary pressures. The price of global benchmark Brent crude rose by about $120 per barrel in March due to the war in West Asia, and fell significantly in June after the intensity of the conflict subsided. The price of Brent crude oil hovered below $80 per barrel after June 19 and closed at $73.15 per barrel on Monday.
“The cessation of conflict in West Asia has brightened growth prospects and also reduced the risks of inflation and external deficits. India’s resilient merchandise export growth is a bright spot. Free trade agreements coming into effect should further boost export growth. Reforms to DGFT processes and further relaxation of quality control orders are examples of continued pragmatic policy.”
India’s exports of goods in May jumped by 18% to $45.20 billion, compared to $38.30 in the same month last year. Despite external headwinds such as US-Iran-Israel war and blockade of the popular sea route through the Strait of Hormuz, India’s total exports (goods and services combined) in April-May 2026-27 stood at $162.69 billion, registering an annual growth of nearly 15%. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement, which is scheduled to come into force on July 15, is expected to give an additional boost to Indian exports.
