Goldilocks phase, reforms glide path to spur Indian economy in 2026

India, the world's fourth largest economy, is set to maintain the 'goldilocks' phase with tailwinds of good growth, low inflation and robust banking performance as well as reform initiatives poised to sustain the economic pace witnessed during 2025. Propelling the themes of ease of living and ease of doing business, the BJP-led Union government's next Budget is expected to unveil new measures to spur capital expenditure and private funding, making the country a more attractive investment destination amid tariff and geopolitical uncertainties. Real GDP growth accelerated through successive quarters, reaching 8.2 per cent in Q2 of 2025-26, while retail inflation slipped below the Reserve Bank's lower tolerance band of 2 per cent towards the close of the year. A government note said that, with a GDP of USD 4.18 trillion, India has surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy and is poised to displace Germany from the third-largest rank in the next 2.5 to 3 years, with a