New Delhi, Sept. 1 -- India's economy got off to a pacy start this fiscal year with its gross domestic product (GDP) expanding 7.8% in the first quarter over the previous year's April-June period. This beat the expectations of economists by a wide margin.

Government data released on Monday shows that the strength was broad-based, with all sectors barring mining performing well. Manufacturing, utilities and construction grew at high single-digit rates, as did most services, although the financial and professional services segment logged double-digit expansion. Agriculture's 3.6% growth was in line with its long-term trend, but mining output fell 2.4%.

Overall, the economy seems to have held up well against headwinds arising from the war ...