Question

Describe the development process in India.

1. Modernization
2. Self-Reliance
3. Equity and Social Justice
4. Eradication of Poverty

Answer 1

1. Modernization - India had inherited a backward and depleted economy from the British. Modernisation of economy was accorded the highest priority. The emphasis was on large-scale industries as this would generate large scale employment for land reforms and irrigation were undertaken for development of agriculture.
2. Self-Reliance - Self-reliance was associated with India’s freedom movement. One of the aspects of self-reliance was ‘import substitution’ strategy. The focus was to develop indigenous industry. India did take foreign aid from other countries, but the aid was utilised mainly in the public sector industry.
3. Equity and Social Justice - The socialist framework of society stressed the goals of equality and social justice in development. In 1950, the Planning Commission was established to facilitate the country's development, and measures were implemented to achieve the vision of a welfare state.
4. Eradication of Poverty - Poverty was absolute and rampant when India attained independence. Emphasis has been on eradication of poverty in the five-year plans. A number of poverty alleviation programmes were implemented to reduce the incidence of poverty in India. The most significant among these are the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).