‘Viksit Bharat’: What it means?
Introduction
PM Narendra Modi has made a strong pitch for “Viksit Bharat” by 2047 from the ramparts of Red Fort on his 11thIndependence Day address to the nation on 15 Oct 2024. He called for the participation of all 140 Cr citizen. He re-emphasized of making it possible while trying to become the 3rd largest economy in the world in the next few years. There is an assumption among many that economically grown nation could be equivalent to a developed nation which is not the case. A developed nation is much more than economic growth alone.
Modi govt hesitates to name it ‘Developed India’ after an alliance of 26 opposition political parties mostly comprising of Chors, Thugs, Scamsters, Extortionists, Radicals and Hindu abusers of the nation who have named themselves as I.N.D.I.A (read “I-N-D-I-A of Thugs; parts 1, 2 & 3; https://thecounterviews.in/articles/i-n-d-i-a-of-thugs-part-1/;https://thecounterviews.in/articles/i-n-d-i-a-of-thugs-part-2/; https://thecounterviews.in/articles/i-n-d-i-a-of-thugs-part-3/). All nationalists firmly believe that out nation cannot be of Chors & Thugs hence, the term “Viksit Bharat” is preferred of late. Further, all must know that a nation doesn’t become developed merely by its financial growth. A developed nation is much more than a large economy. Let us elaborate on it.
Parameters of National Development
A Developed Nation is defined as the one having strong economic strength, a higher industrial output, a wider infrastructure growth, making an advanced Technological Strides, having a strong Defence Force as well as its high Human Living indices. There could be a few additional inclusive parameters too with its citizen having a high quality of life.
Economic Parameters. Anything over 10th major world economies with a healthy ‘Per Capita Income (PCI)’ does qualify to be categorised as developed nation on that parameter. In today’s world, economic power plays a major role which was the hallmark of Modi-Mantra on the very first day of his government. In the last 10 yrs or so, Bharat has progressed rapidly on the economic front from the fragile five to the 5th largest economy in the world. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown from a low $1.7 trillion in 2014 to near $4 Trillion by now despite disabling impact of Covid19. Hence, there is no reason to disbelieve the govt’s resolve to become 3rd largest world economy in the coming 5 years is very much possible. Modi govt will nearly be doubling PCI by 2025. Even UPA govt had doubled the PCI in their 10 years but in view of the wide differences in the inflation rates, the net earning or ‘carry home earning’ has wide differences too. Individual Carry Home Earning is also influenced by some other factors. However, National Cost of Living grossly dictates the Standard of Living. The PCI in Europe is almost 15-25 times of our nation but Cost of Living too is higher by almost similar multiples. This is the reason that even slightest of crunch (ie Covid19 & Ukraine war) has had such massive impacts in the Standard of living in Europe. By 2045, PCI in the nation could be about $15-20K which under a reasonable inflation and cost of living could provide a reasonable standard of living akin to a developed nation as seen in Europe.
Industrial Production as a Parameter. Industries that gainfully extract and refine the nation’s crude resources marketable, are the basics of their national growths. A higher Industrial output akin to either self-sufficiency, self-reliance or leading world exporter is another parameters for a developed nation. Industrialisation of a nation is a continuous process with timely technological upgradation, modernisation of the machines and re-orienting its need-based expansion. Industrialisation has received a major boost under Modi govt with inclusivity of ‘Make-in-India, Made-in-India and the massive numbers of entrepreneurs in ‘Start-ups’. In addition, the ‘New India’ is becoming a Industrial Hub for several Engineering Products. Presently the nation is the largest producer of Hi-Tech mobile phones and second largest manufacturer in the automobile sector. The recent efforts in setting up of the Blue Chips, could be a game changer. Most of the international leaders in manufacturing are seeing this nation as a favourable destination. Besides, Modi govt has renovated and modernised most of the old-generation industries in almost all sectors especially those in fertilisers and steel, bringing in green technologies etc are his hallmark. Impacts of all these are huge. Industrial parameter achieving the marker of a Developed nation by 2040 or so should not be a problem.
Parameter of Infrastructural Growth. Modi Govt has invested heavily in the development of Infrastructure right from day 1. It believes that the financial benefit and return of this investment is the best of all. The development of Highways, Railways (incl modern Stations, Trains & Metros, Bridges & Tunnels), Airways, Waterways and Ropeways are phenomenal. Mr Nitin Gadkari, the minister for it is regarded in some quarters as the ‘modern-day Vishwakarma’. The boost in power generation and distribution incl Renewable and Green Energy, has been massive keeping in mind the future needs too. The growth in e-Way has been phenomenal incl provisioning of internet thru’ Fibre-Optic cables. He has transformed the infrastructure sector of ‘New India’. The nation will be high on the parameters of Infrastructural growths of developed nations by 2035 or so.
Technological Advancements. ‘New India’ is aspiring to become a strong challenger in bringing in newer technologies (incl indigenous ones) in most of the sectors. Besides being leader in Software technologies, Indian hardware innovations and newer developments are fulfilling the aspirations of the nation. Young Entrepreneurs have taken lead in most of the sectors incl Defence and Space. Indian payment gate of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has caught the imaginations of the entire world. Digital transactions have already set sky-rocketing records. This is also helping in getting rid of the black money. Technological advancement of any nation is a continuous process, keeps evolving to newer ones. The nation is almost at par with the advanced technologies in developed nations and will be one of the leaders in the field by 2040s or so.
Strong Defence Goals. After nearly 2 decades of neglect of the Defence Modernisation plans that put the nation at the brink, achievements in the Defence Sector in the last 10 yrs of the Union Government has been thunderous. Even more applauding is the modernization through self-reliance (read “Recent Modernisation of Indian Armed Forces”,https://thecounterviews.in/articles/recent-modernisation-of-indian-armed-forces/) read in conjunction with another article published in 2024 (read “Army Day 2024: How is our Army shaping up?”, https://thecounterviews.in/articles/army-day-2024-how-is-our-army-shaping-up/). Presently the indigenous component in the Defence Manufacturing is barely 60% or so BUT it is likely to touch 75% in no time. With the modernization plan of the costly Hi-Tech Defence Equipment that includes Combat aircrafts, advanced artillery and Tanks as well as all types of combat naval vessels (incl nuclear Subs & aircraft carrier) thru’ indigenous efforts, a big drain of foreign exchange is prevented. Further acquisition of such equipment boosts manufacturing growth. This is the reason why ‘New India” is able to project its power in the region and it is a matter of 10-15 yrs that it will be a global power. Thus, Defence goals of advanced nation is very much on track and achievable by 2040.
Human Development Index (HDI). Addressing the issues relevant to HDI is going to be the most challenging for making Viksit Bharat. Although some of the parameters of HDI like Life Expectancy, Education thru’ Schooling, Gender Inequality and Standards of Living are already showing an upswing trends with massive projects of Housing for Poor (PM Gareeb Awas Yojna), Free Cereals to vulnerable sections (PM Gareeb Anna Yojna), making available Drinking water (har ghar Nal se Jal), providing free medical treatment to poor section (Ayushman Bharat), facilitating Cooking Gas connections (Ujjwala Scheme) along with several other welfare activities. However, a moderate size of population by remoteness or by choice remains ignorant. They include Tribals, traditional artisans and some others that includes Muslims who avoid inoculation/vaccination, modern education and are reluctant to contribute to national development. Many of them prefer to render their lives to their Islamic faith even at the cost of becoming radicals, Fundamentalists or terrorists indulgent against the nations and its nationals of other faiths. The nation has recorded substantial boost in 2022 when its HDI improved to 0.644 into a medium category. There is no reason why it should not progress to a value of developed category by 2040-45 barring the uncertainties of Tribals & Muslims.
In the last one decade, PM Modi has made the nation proud wherein the global community listens to the Indian viewpoints on the international subjects. The ‘New India’ has “India First” approach that is good for its own national. It has strong foreign policies not allied to any of the powers. Rapid financial growth has already made it 5th largest economy in the world and is heading to become 3rd largest in the next few years. Manufacturing sector has grown leap and bound. Its Defence might can project itself as a strong regional power, soon likely to become global power too. This ‘New India” cares for neighbors in the times of desperation and disasters and reaches out to the nations in dire need. The nationals are proud of the ‘New India’ and looking forward to become a proud citizen of “Viksit Bharat”.
Conclusion
Although PM Modi has given a call to make “Viksit Bharat” in his Independent Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort in 2024, the march to progress had started from the very first day of his govt in 2014. The target is a modest one, fully achievable by 2045. Hence, there is no doubt to assume that at the 100th year of independence, the dream of every national to be a proud citizen of ‘Viksit Bharat’ could be fully achieved. Although there are few Ifs & Buts in the objective, the nation is fully capable of meeting all parameters of a Developed Nation elaborated above in its Amrit Kaal of 100 yrs.