India's economy powers ahead

New Delhi - India's economy grew a forecast-beating 8.9% year-on-year in the July-September quarter, data showed on Tuesday, as the South Asian nation returned to pre-financial crisis expansion levels.

The fiscal second-quarter boom beat expectations of growth of around 8.2% and was propelled by a 9.8% jump in manufacturing from a year earlier and an 8.8% leap in construction.

Asia's third-largest economy also got a boost from stronger farm production, which expanded 4.4%, thanks to a bountiful monsoon, data from the Central Statistical Organisation showed.

The strong overall growth comes as the country of 1.2 billion people has been aggressively unwinding massive stimulus measures put in place to shield the country from the impact of the global slump.