Monday, February 7 2005 13:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Lower agricultural performance in the current financial year is likely to pull the economic growth down to 6.9 per cent from 8.5 per cent in the last financial year.

According to Advance Estimates of National Income released by the Government, growth in the agricultural sector is expected to be 1.1 per cent in the current fiscal over 9.6 per cent last year.

Even the robust manufacturing sector performance at 8.9 per cent in 2004-05 compared to 6.9 per cent in 2003-04 could not check the fall in overall economic growth, the advance estimates said.

Last month Government had revised the GDP growth for last financial year to 8.5 per cent while releasing the Quick Estimates of National Income.