Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Sunday reacted to a world statistics report that ranked India on the second spot by way of international GDP contribution forecast for 2026. Musk’s remarks have been later cited by Union minister of parliamentary affairs Kiren Rijiju to counter Lok Sabha Chief of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, urging him to not “disparage India” whereas criticising the federal government.
The BJP chief was referring to a publish by Musk a day earlier during which the tech billionaire wrote, “The stability of energy is altering.” Musk had shared a publish by @stats_feed claiming that China and India collectively contribute “43.6% of world progress.”
Rijiju’s feedback got here amid continued criticism by Gandhi of the BJP-led authorities’s dealing with of the financial system, together with his reiteration of the “lifeless financial system” comment and recent objections to the Union Price range 2026–27.
Responding on X, Rijiju mentioned he was quoting Elon Musk solely to make a broader level on nationwide achievement.
“I usually don’t react to statements which aren’t made by Indians. I am quoting @elonmusk solely to sensitise Rahul Gandhi ji that, whereas criticizing the govt. is a democratic proper, don’t disparage India & by no means belittle India’s achievement. Be a proud Indian,” Rijiju posted.
The publish shared by Elon Musk listed the highest 10 international locations and their projected contribution to international GDP progress in 2026, citing IMF information, and added that the Asia-Pacific area accounts for round 50% of whole international progress.
The listing put India above the US with a GDP contribution forecast of 17%. Different international locations like Indonesia, the US, China and Germany stood at 3.8%, 9.9%, 26.6% and 0.9%, respectively.
Again in January, the IMF raised India’s progress projection to 7.3 per cent for fiscal 2025-26 and the nation’s GDP progress forecast to six.4 per cent for fiscal yr 2026-27.
FM Sitharaman’s response
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman additionally joined cited Musk’s comment on the Youth Dialogue on Price range 2026, citing IMF information highlighted by SpaceX CEO, she highlighted India’s rising financial weight globally.
She mentioned, “Elon Musk takes the IMF information to say ‘wow, is that this true’. I do not bear in mind if he precisely mentioned ‘wow’… China contributes 26% of progress in international GDP. India contributes 17%. Collectively, 43 % of world GDP progress comes from these two economies… However India’s opposition also needs to perceive that that is the form of power that India has acquired now.”
Sitharaman mentioned this displays the power India has acquired in recent times and added that whereas the hole with China stays important, it may be bridged.
Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of financial system
Rijiju’s remarks come in opposition to the backdrop of repeated criticism by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of the federal government’s financial insurance policies.
Addressing a question on the “lifeless financial system” comment made by US President Donald Trump in July final yr, Gandhi had backed Trump’s assertion and criticised the BJP over its dealing with of the financial system.
On Sunday, after the Union Price range was introduced in Parliament, Gandhi once more took to X to listing what he described as key points ignored by the federal government.
“Youth with out jobs. Falling manufacturing. Traders pulling out capital. Family financial savings plummeting. Farmers in misery. Looming international shocks – all ignored. A Price range that refuses course correction, blind to India’s actual crises,” Gandhi wrote.
Sitharaman presents ninth Price range
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday introduced the Union Price range for 2026–27, her ninth consecutive Price range, which the federal government described as a roadmap of reforms and a imaginative and prescient for the second quarter of the twenty first century.
In her Price range speech, Sitharaman reiterated the federal government’s give attention to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and introduced a number of measures aimed toward boosting financial progress and offering client reduction. Earnings tax slabs, nevertheless, have been left unchanged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi additionally mentioned the Union Price range 2026–27 would additional strengthen India’s place globally.
“The 140 crore residents of India are glad with not simply being the fastest-growing financial system, however we additionally need to be the third-largest international financial system on the earliest. That is the resolve of crores of residents of the nation,” the Prime Minister mentioned.
