• UGI USER
  • Jun 01, 2024
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“JOURNEY TO 2047: INDIA’S PATH TO BECOMING A DEVELOPED NATION”

Syllabus:

  • GS-1- Post independent India and the progress, Vision for 2047 and the ways to achieve it

Focus :

  • The article focuses on outlining a comprehensive roadmap for India’s journey to become a developed country by 2047.
  • It emphasizes raising investment rates, fostering private sector growth, enhancing manufacturing, leveraging technology, and ensuring equitable distribution of growth benefits. Addressing job creation amid technological changes and maintaining sustainable development are also highlighted as crucial elements.
Source - IE

Introduction

  • Context: India aims to become developed country by 2047, marking 100 years of independence.
  • Current Status: As of 2024, India’s per capita income is $2,500, far below the threshold for developed countries ($13,845).
  • Growth Requirement: To achieve developed status, India needs an average annual real growth rate of 6-7%.

Economic Growth and Investment

  • Capital Formation: To achieve a 7% growth rate, India needs a Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) rate of 35% of GDP.
  • Current Investment Rates: The recent increase in GFCF has been driven by government capital expenditures.
  • Private Investment: Sustained growth requires a boost in private investment by 1-2 percentage points of GDP.
  • Fiscal Challenges: High fiscal deficits limit the potential for continued government-led investment growth.

Industrial Policy and Export-Led Growth

  • Historical Context: Post-World War II, East Asian countries achieved rapid progress through export-led growth strategies.
  • China’s Example: China’s share in world exports grew from 0.6% in 1970 to 11.9% in 2022.
  • India’s Performance: India’s share in world exports increased modestly from 0.6% in 1970 to 2.5% in 2022.
  • Changing Global Trade: Protectionist trends in developed countries pose challenges for export-led growth.
  • Efficiency in Exports: Despite challenges, exports remain crucial for testing and improving efficiency.

Multi-Dimensional Growth Strategy

  • Diverse Focus: The strategy should include emphasis on exports, services, manufacturing, and agriculture.
  • Identifying Sunrise Industries: Prioritize industries like food processing that are labor-intensive and have export potential.
  • Efficient Import Substitution: Strive for cost-effective self-sufficiency without falling into inefficient import substitution.
  • Sectoral Development: Promote sectors that ensure job creation and contribute to overall growth.

Technological Advancements and Employment

  • Technological Impact: Advances in AI, Gen AI, and machine learning could reduce labor absorption per unit of output.
  • Employment Elasticity: The elasticity of employment with respect to output is decreasing, raising concerns about jobless growth
  • Jobless Growth Concerns: The shift from mechanical to digital automation raises concerns about employment.
  • Skill Development: Embrace new technologies while investing in skill development to mitigate negative employment impacts.
  • Balanced Approach: Develop a mix of sectors to ensure job growth alongside technological advancement.

Equity and Poverty Reduction

  • Equity Importance: Equitable distribution of growth benefits is crucial for sustained development.
  • Poverty Reduction: Extreme poverty in India has fallen below 3%, with recent data suggesting it has dropped to 2%.
  • Income Inequality: Recent surveys show a marginal reduction in the Gini coefficient, indicating slight improvements in income distribution.
  • Social Safety Nets: Programs like subsidized food grains remain critical for maintaining equity.
  • Integrated Approach: Growth and equity should be pursued simultaneously, with an emphasis on health and education.
Studying India’s development through SDG:

1. No Poverty

  • Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY): A comprehensive relief package to help the poor fight the battle against COVID-19.
  • National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA): Provides at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household.
  • ·Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): Aims to provide affordable housing to the urban poor.

2. Zero Hunger

  • National Food Security Act (NFSA): Provides subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India’s population.
  • Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Ensures one meal to all children in government and government-aided schools.
  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): Focuses on improving farm productivity and ensuring better utilization of the resources in the country.

3. Good Health and Well-being

  • Ayushman Bharat: Aims to provide health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
  • National Health Mission (NHM): Encompasses its two sub-missions, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).
  • Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI): Targets full immunization coverage for children.

4. Quality Education

  • Samagra Shiksha: An integrated scheme for school education extending support from pre-school to senior secondary levels.
  • Right to Education (RTE) Act: Ensures free and compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 to 14.
  • Digital India Initiative: Aims to boost digital literacy and education through various online platforms and resources.

5. Gender Equality

  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Aims to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of women empowerment.
  • Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act: Extends maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.

6. Clean Water and Sanitation

  • Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): Aims to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management.
  • Jal Jeevan Mission: Ensures access to safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households by 2024.
  • Namami Gange Programme: Focuses on the conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga river.

7. Affordable and Clean Energy

  • Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya): Aims to achieve universal household electrification.
  • Ujjwala Yojana: Provides LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
  • National Solar Mission: Aims to establish India as a global leader in solar energy.

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Make in India: Encourages companies to manufacture their products in India.
  • Skill India Mission: Provides skills training to youth for employment.
  • Start-Up India: Promotes entrepreneurship by providing support to start-ups.

9.Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  • Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): Encourages innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Bharatmala Project: Focuses on the development of road infrastructure.
  • Digital India: Aims to improve online infrastructure and increase internet connectivity.

10. Reduced Inequality

  • Reservation Policies: Provides reservations in education and employment for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
  • Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): Aims to provide financial services to the unbanked population.
  • Accessible India Campaign: Aims to make public spaces accessible to persons with disabilities.

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Smart Cities Mission: Aims to develop 100 smart cities across the country.
  • AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation): Focuses on urban infrastructure development.
  • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban): Aims to provide housing for all urban poor.

12. Responsible Consumption and Production

  • Swachh Survekshan: Annual cleanliness survey to encourage cities to work towards cleanliness.
  • Plastic Waste Management Rules: Regulates the manufacture, sale, and use of plastic.
  • National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Includes missions for sustainable agriculture, water conservation, and energy efficiency.

13. Climate Action

  • International Solar Alliance (ISA): Promotes solar energy usage globally.
  • National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Outlines eight missions to tackle climate change.
  • Green India Mission: Focuses on afforestation and sustainable forest management.

14. Life Below Water

  • Sagarmala Programme: Aims to enhance the performance of the country’s logistics sector.
  • Marine Pollution Control: Implementation of regulations to control marine pollution.
  • National Fisheries Policy: Promotes sustainable fishing practices.

15. Life on Land

  • National Afforestation Programme (NAP): Focuses on increasing forest cover.
  • Wildlife Protection Act: Provides legal protection to wildlife species and their habitats.
  • Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA): Utilizes funds for afforestation and forest conservation.

16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

E-Courts Mission Mode Project: Promotes the use of technology in the judicial system.

Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act: Establishes anti-corruption ombudsman.

Right to Information (RTI) Act: Promotes transparency and accountability in governance.

17. Partnerships for the Goals

  • Development Cooperation: Engages in South-South cooperation and extends development assistance to neighboring countries.
  • Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Promotes collaborative efforts between government and private sector for infrastructure development.
  • Global Partnerships: Actively participates in international forums and collaborates with global organizations to achieve SDGs.

Conclusion

  • Multi-Faceted Strategy: India’s development strategy must be multi-dimensional, focusing on raising investment rates, emphasizing manufacturing, services, and exports, absorbing new technologies, and promoting employment-friendly sectors.
  • Job Creation Challenge: Ensuring adequate job creation in the face of technological advancements will be a significant challenge.
  • Sustainable Growth: Achieving the goal of becoming a developed country by 2047 requires a balanced approach to growth and equity.

Source:The Hindu

Mains Practice Question :

GS-1

“Discuss the strategic roadmap proposed for India to become a developed country by 2047. Highlight the key focus areas such as raising investment rates, fostering private sector growth, leveraging technology, enhancing manufacturing and exports, and ensuring equitable distribution of growth benefits. Evaluate the challenges and opportunities in achieving these goals. “(250 words)