A “fact-check kit” for economic claims: how to reference Survey text without cherry-picking
Key highlights
- Always cite the time window (FY vs Apr–Dec vs “as of” dates).
- Use two numbers when possible: the headline metric + the relevant driver.
- Avoid “automatic prosperity” claims; the Survey itself often flags constraints and trade-offs. India Budget+1
Economic misinformation in 2026 won’t always look like lying. It will look like selective truth. The Survey gives enough material to support multiple narratives—so your editorial method becomes the real fact-check.
Step 1: Lock the time window.
Example: inflation moderation is 4.9% in FY25 (Apr–Dec)—not “FY25 overall”—and FY24 comparison is 5.4%. India Budget
Step 2: Keep one driver next to the headline.
If you mention inflation, add the CPI reality that food is ~two-fifths of the basket; if food is volatile, public sentiment won’t track “core” comfort. India Budget
Step 3: Prefer “as of” precision for stock variables.
External buffers: FX reserves USD 640.3 bn (end-Dec 2024); external debt USD 711.8 bn (end-Sep 2024). India Budget
Step 4: When you use a success metric, add the constraint line.
Energy transition: RE capacity 209.4 GW (Dec 2024) (~47% of installed capacity), but the Survey flags storage and mineral constraints—so don’t write it as a straight-line victory. India Budget+1
Step 5: Ban the “therefore” sentence.
Public capex has risen sharply (trend rate 38.8% FY20–FY24), but the Survey says public capital alone can’t meet infra needs—so don’t “therefore” your way into guaranteed jobs or guaranteed private investment. India Budget
That’s the kit: precision, pairing, and pessimism—not cynicism.
