India has recorded its first monthly fall in gross domestic product since November last year.

The National Statistical Council (NSDC) said on Tuesday the economy grew by a meager 1.9% in the April-December quarter, down from a previous estimate of 2.2%.

It said the decline came in spite of a stronger than expected demand from businesses and households.

The economy has been in recession for five years and the government has repeatedly promised a revival.

However, there has been a sharp fall in inflation in the last year, and economists have been sceptical about the government’s economic policy.