Discuss economic reforms in India in the light of social justice and welfare.
The economic reforms have enabled India to access and compete in the international markets. This facilitated the movement of goods and services across the international boundaries. Further, the increased inflows of foreign capital and investment to India have eliminated the shortage of foreign exchange to finance the imports of sophisticated and advanced technologies to India. Moreover, the boom in the outsourcing and the service sector led India's economic growth and GDP to increase by many folds. But on the other side, agriculture that employed a significant proportion of the population, failed to be benefited by these economic reforms. Also the reforms favoured the high income group population at the cost of their poor counterparts. This resulted in a wide and still increasing economic and social inequalities among different sections of the population. Further, the economic reforms developed the areas that were well connected with the metropolitan cities leaving the remote and rural area undeveloped. Consequently, there were wide regional disparities. The boom in the service sector, especially in the form of quality education, superior health care facilities, IT, tourism, multiplex cinemas, etc. were out of the reach of the poor section of the population. The population engaged in the agricultural and allied sectors has still not been able to share the fruits of advanced technology and modern techniques. Further, the high income group has experienced an increase in income, thereby, appreciating the quality of their consumption basket, leaving the low and middle income group to fight hard to earn their livelihood. Thus, it can be concluded that the economic reforms failed to provide social justice and enhance welfare of the general public of India.
How is RBI controlling the commercial banks?
Distinguish between the following
(i) Strategic and Minority sale
(ii) Bilateral and Multi-lateral trade
(iii) Tariff and Non-tariff barriers.
Agriculture sector appears to be adversely affected by the reform process. Why?
Why were reforms introduced in India?
Those public sector undertakings which are making profits should be privatised. Do you agree with this view? Why?
Why did RBI have to change its role from controller to facilitator of financial sector in India?
Do you think outsourcing is good for India? Why are developed countries opposing it?
Do you think the navaratna policy of the government helps in improving the performance of public sector undertakings in India? How?
What do you understand by devaluation of rupee?
Why has the industrial sector performed poorly in the reform period?
What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India? What were the impacts of these policies?
What are the two major sources of human capital in a country?
What do you mean by rural development? Bring out the key issues in rural development.
Define a plan?
Who is a worker?
Explain the term ‘infrastructure’.
What is meant by environment?
Why are regional and economic groupings formed?
Why calorie-based norm is not adequate to identify the poor?
Name some notable economists who estimated India’s per capita income during the colonial period?
Outline the steps involved in attaining sustainable development in India.
Infrastructure contributes to the economic development of a country. Do you agree? Explain.
Discuss the main drawbacks of our health care system.
How do infrastructure facilities boost production?
Explain the term ‘infrastructure’.
Why was the public sector given a leading role in industrial development during the planning period?
What were the main causes of India’s agricultural stagnation during the colonial period?
What is a ‘global burden of disease’?
What is the state of rural infrastructure in India?
What is marketable surplus?