Viksit Bharat has now been formally launched. The idea of making India a developed nation by 2047, the 100th year of its Independence, sounds exciting. This goal looks achievable, given the pace with which the country is moving ahead. This moment also gives us an opportunity to assess the idea of development intended. The focus and priorities in the choice of development planning are crucial and complex. In Viksit Bharat, economic development is overemphasised. But post-developmentalists argue that this is a Euro-centric notion of development which reflects the interests of its practitioners.
The aspects included in Viksit Bharat are structural transformation; organising labour markets; increasing competitiveness; improving financial and social inclusion; governance reforms, and seizing opportunities in the Green Revolution. Aspiring to claim the title of being the world’s largest economy will not fulfil every desire and ambition this country holds dear. The need for material development can be accepted, but this will be one of many things India will aspire for by 2047. Critics of development have consistently raised concerns about the conventional models of economic growth, challenging the contentious notions surrounding modernity and progress. The current idea of Viksit Bharat needs to be reimagined to assess what other aspects of development would assume importance for India.
