MUMBAI, India (AP) — India’s economic growth slid to 5.3 percent in the September quarter, stuck at its lowest levels in three years as New Delhi struggles to enact reforms to kick start Asia’s third-largest economy.

The number released Friday by the government was in line with expectations that the second quarter of the fiscal year was lackluster. A weakening economy complicates New Delhi’s effort to create jobs for its exploding youth population and balance the budget, while paying for costly social programs in advance of national elections scheduled for 2014.

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