How India's slumping economy could hurt Modi's re-election bid

The country's annual rate of growth slumped to 6.6% in the quarter ended December. That's a sharp drop from 7.1% recorded the previous quarter and the weakest performance in more than a year. Economists surveyed by Reuters were predicting GDP growth of 6.9%.

The plunge is a troubling sign for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he bids for a second term in office.

India's elections are due to be held before May, and Modi's stewardship of the economy has come under increased scrutiny ahead of the vote.

The Indian leader came to power in 2014 promising to create millions of jobs and boost the economy. But growth is down from its recent peak of 8.2% in the middle of 2018, and a recent study showed that unemployment has risen across the country.

India is still the world's fastest growing major economy after China's growth slowed to 6.4% in the last quarter of 2018.

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