For the April-to-June quarter, it grew at a rate of 4.4%, compared with the same period in the previous year.

 

It was a weaker performance than most economists¹ had been expecting and was a slowdown from the first three months of the year, when growth was 4.8%.

 

A contraction² in mining and manufacturing activity was behind the slowdown.

 

Friday's figures show the economy is now expanding at the slowest rate since 2009.

 

"We do not wish to sound alarmist, but concern on the economy can hardly be overstated," said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry, in reaction to the latest figures. 

 

"The economy needs the undivided attention of policy makers," she said.

 

It adds to the pressure on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who earlier addressed parliament over the nation's economic problems.

 

In his statement to parliament, made before the figures were released, the prime minister said India was not facing a repeat of the crisis in 1991. 

 

Back then, India's foreign currency reserves became so depleted³ that it had to borrow from the International Monetary⁴ Fund to pay its import bills.

 

"Growth will pick up in the second half, barring extreme unforeseen eventualities," the prime minister said.

 

He also said that a strong monsoon⁵（季风，雨季） would boost harvests and help reduce food inflation.

 

Mr Singh was also keen to reassure⁶ the nation over the falling value of the Indian rupee, saying it was "a matter of concern".

 

The rupee hit a record low against the dollar on Wednesday and has fallen more than 20% this year.

 

That fall is damaging for the economy, as India imports large amounts of fuel and foodstuffs⁷ and the weak rupee makes those imports more expensive.

 

Mr Singh said: "Clearly, we need to reduce our appetite for gold, economise [on] the use of petroleum⁸ products and take steps to increase our exports."

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