Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended his government's efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic over the last two years, saying they led to high economic growth and middling inflation, unlike the situation in some advanced economies.

Economic growth is estimated at 9.2 per cent in India's fiscal year ending in March and at 8pc to 8.5pc the next, after a contraction of 6.6pc in fiscal 2019-20, while retail inflation hovers around 5.5pc, well within the central bank's target of 2pc to 6pc.

The government has distributed free food grain to 800 million people during the pandemic, while taking steps to tame inflation, Modi told the upper house of parliament in remarks that triggered an opposition boycott of his speech.

“I want to assure everyone that while the pandemic lasts, we will protect the poor,” Modi said, as he accused opposition parties of creating panic about the impact of the pandemic.