India, Sept. 2 -- Coming at the heels of higher-than-expected GDP growth figures in the first quarter (April-June) of this fiscal, the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) indicated the "fastest improvement in operating conditions for 17-and-a-half years." At 59.3 in August, the figure was superseded last in mid-2008. Earlier, the country's quarterly real GDP growth rate "comfortably beat expectations," as it clocked 7.8 per cent, compared to 6.5 per cent in the same period last year. According to the HSBC report, "Indian manufacturing growth gained momentum in August, with ongoing improvements in demand continuing to underpin robust increases in factory orders and position." It added, "Companies upped the pace at whi...