The Indian economy grew at the slowest rate since 2003 in the first three months of 2012, due to a widening trade gap and poor investment.

因贸易逆差的不断增大与投资下降，2012年第一季度印度经济增长降至2003年以来最低点。

India's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.3% in the quarter compared with a year earlier, data showed.

That is down from 6.1% in the previous quarter. Analysts¹ were expecting the same figure for January to March.

India is the third-largest economy in Asia but has been struggling with inflation and currency weakness.

'Shocking numbers'

Since July last year, the Indian rupee has seen one of the biggest declines among Asian currencies, dropping more than 27% against the US dollar.

"Shocking numbers as growth was even lower than lows witnessed during the financial crisis," said Anubhuti Sahay from Standard Chartered Bank in Mumbai.

The BBC's Yogita Limaye in Mumbai said that just a year ago India was aspiring² for double-digit growth.

But a global slowdown has reduced external demand, and high inflation coupled with a weak rupee has made things more expensive within the country.

'Comatose³ government'

Domestic demand, which India's economy is largely reliant（依赖的） on, has also slowed in part due to the political upheaval⁴（剧变，隆起） in the country.

India's economy is suffering from "policy incoherence（不连贯） , shifting global risk appetite and a comatose government", said Rajeev Malik, senior economist⁵ at brokerage CLSA.

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh admitted early this month that his government must do more to get the once fast-growing economy moving again.

The Congress-led coalition⁶ government is caught up in a slew⁷ of corruption⁸ scandals.

Key policy reforms, including allowing foreign investment in India's retail⁹ sector¹⁰, have been delayed in parliament for more than a year.