The finance minister said on Monday that he expects the economy to grow around seven per cent in the fiscal year ending March 2010. 

"I am quite hopeful that if this trend continues, we will have higher GDP growth than anticipated. I hope it will be around 7 percent," Pranab Mukherjee told reporters.

Government data showed on Monday the economy grew by 7.9 per cent in the quarter through September from a year earlier, shattering market forecasts as stimulus measures boosted demand and manufacturing activity surged.