NEW DELHI : Manufacturing activity expanded at its fastest pace in 13 months in November, a private survey showed, indicating that the economy is strengthening in the third quarter after GDP data released on Thursday showed a rebound in the second quarter.The Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index ( PMI ) rose to 52.6 in November from 50.3 in October, backed by strong growth in new orders and higher production. Adding to the buoyant sentiment was India’s top automakers reporting a doubledigit sales growth in November, supporting the argument that the previous month’s dip was a one-off instance and that the industry was on course to posting strong numbers this fiscal year.Greater production led to the fastest rate of employment creation since September 2012, the PMI survey showed, but there was acceleration in inflationary pressure that could make a rate cut difficult in the next monetary policy review on December 6.GDP data released Thursday showed the economy reversed five quarters of slowdowns to post 6.3% growth in the July-September quarter compared with a three-year low of 5.7% in the previous quarter.“India’s manufacturing economy advanced on its path to recovery as disruptions from the recent tax reform (GST) continue to diminish," said Aashna Dodhia, economist at IHS Markit, the agency that compiles the data. “Growth in output and new orders picked up to the fastest since October 2016, reportedly supported by reductions in GST rates and stronger underlying demand conditions."There was a marked increase in output, with the rate of expansion at its strongest since October 2016 and manufacturing companies saw a renewed increase in new export orders during November, the first increase in three years.The rate of growth in new orders accelerated to the fastest in 13 months. The only category that didn’t record a rise in new work was capital goods, as was the case with output, which suggests muted investment activity.The growth in consumer and intermediate goods was offset by a marginal deterioration in the investment goods category. Manufacturers purchased greater quantities of raw material and semi-finished items in November.Input cost inflation quickened to the fastest since April with chemicals, steel and petroleum products contributing the most. “While input prices rose at a stronger pace, the rate of output charge inflation was marginal.Anecdotal evidence indicated that firms were unable to fully pass on higher cost burdens to customers amid intensive competitive conditions,” the survey said.According to Dodhia, “Underlying data indicated that the central bank is less likely to adopt an accommodative stance as input cost inflation intensified to the fastest since April.”To be sure, the healthy growth in November auto sales numbers came on a low base as sales a year earlier had taken a hit after the November 8, 2016, demonetisation announcement.Nevertheless, industry executives took the strong performance in a traditionally weak month as a positive sign.