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From Struggle to Strength: The Economic Journey of India Post-Independence

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The Indian Economy we know today has undergone massive changes over the years that make it not just an interesting read but an inspiring story. From being an economy that barely survived the economic crisis right after it gained independence from colonial rule to becoming one of the largest economies in the world, India has truly changed its fate over the past 7 decades. 

You might already be aware of the current economic status of India, however, have you ever thought about how we reached here? What obstacles we had to overcome and how the government moulded policies to fight back the economic crisis? 

As we get set to celebrate the 78th Independence Day, let’s take a walk through the evolution of the Indian economy from 1947 to 2024: A 77-year economic history that can be best understood through two major phases:

  • Pre Liberalisation Period 

  • Post Liberalisation Period 

Evolution of Indian Economy: Understanding the Major Highlights 

Let’s begin with the pre-liberalisation period/the post-independence economy, which started in 1947 and continued until 1990. 

  • Remodelling the Economy

Before the end of colonial rule, India was already facing a major financial crisis and had to deal with an empty Indian treasury. Around the 1700s, the Indian economy was contributing 22.6% of the world economy, reduced to 3.8% by 1952, showcasing the severe impact of colonial robbery the country had to deal with. 

The journey of rebuilding the economy began in the 1950s with a straightforward approach of fueling the growth for rapid industrialization with a centrally designed 5-year plan. The focus on producing basic and heavy materials like steel, machines and tools, locomotives and so on helped the country build a foundation. Industry protection was offered to compete with foreign products. 

Additionally, the lack of a private sector during this period forced the government to employ in the public sector. A massive milestone was marked with the opening of 14 national banks by 1964. All of this helped the country’s GDP reach ₹5,844.8 crores.

  • The Revolutionary Green Farming 

India has always been an agricultural country with the scope of revamping its economy like no other. It was obvious for the government to focus on agrarian growth but with a futuristic approach. 

This resulted in the adaptation of agriculture industrialization, in 1965- a brainchild of Lal Bahadur Shastri. This indicated a turn of agricultural practices by providing HYV seeds, quality pesticides and fertilisers along with the introduction of agricultural tools like tractors and threshers. 

While this helped the income of farmers in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh grow by almost 70%, the policy could not protect itself from controversies and a mild failure.

  • Looking at the Private Sector 

The Green Farming revolution had its drawbacks, which stemmed mainly from overpopulation and lack of demand due to poor economic status. Industries were over-employed with no revenue generation which posed a threat to the economy. For instance- The Haldia Fertiliser Plant was established in 1970 and employed 1,500 people but the plant did not produce even an ounce of fertiliser due to lack of demand. 

The ongoing problems made one thing clear- India needed to look towards the private sector. By the mid-1980s, the government started to slowly liberalise certain restrictions to generate employment. 

The period between mid 1980s to 2002 brought some relief to the Indian Economy as the economy was growing 6% annually.

Let’s move towards the post-liberalisation period that started in 1991.

The Economic Liberalisation 

India made LPG (Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalization) reforms as its priority in 1991. Two key reasons that forced the government to bring LPF reforms were.

  • The inflation rate rose from 6.7% to 16.7% 

  • Public debt and interest amounted to 36.4% of total government expenditure.

Here’s how the government planned on bringing LPG reforms:

  • Removal of the industrial raj

  • Reduction of taxes

  • Dilution of the role of the public sector

  • Market deregulation

  • Reduction in import tariffs

  • The Great Recession, 2008

While the LPG reforms helped India in increasing GDP rates and actively cutting down exports, the year 2008 came as a black spot for the economy. 

The Great Recession had its impact on the Indian economy primarily in employment that pushed India back to a severe case of unemployment. For instance - The IT industry laid off around 5 lakh employees along with the automobile and textile industry cutting down their employment by 4.79% and 1.29%, respectively. 

This phase made India realise the drawbacks of relying heavily on money put in by foreign countries to facilitate the country’s growth. A major step to overcome the losses of the Great Recession was taken by the RBI to cut down interest rates heavily to encourage people and businesses to borrow money and spend more.  

  • The Demonetisation, 2016

Coming to the chapter, you probably were a part of- The Demonetisation, 2016. It was introduced as a measure to curb the circulation of black money and while it had positive results, demonetisation impacted the economy negatively by stopping the regular cash flow. The Indian economy is largely driven by cash transactions- an aspect that was probably not evaluated and slowed down the economy. 

  • The Unfortunate Pandemic

Starting from 2020 to 2022, not just India but the world faced an economic burn as everything came to a stop. The pandemic, as much as it cost lives, had impacted the economy severely as well. 

Studies show an estimated 400 million laid-offs along with key industries like travel, hospitality, tourism, transport and so on facing turmoil bringing a stop to India’s economic growth. 

  • The Indian Economy Today
    Economic reforms in India have helped the country build a US$3.7 trillion economy. The post-pandemic era has observed key developments in the fields of agriculture, infrastructure, skill development and education to boost the Indian economy. The GDP for 2020-2021 was at a growth of 9.5% indicating a positive future. 

The 2024 budget is yet another reformatory approach to fuel sectors that can have the potential to bring huge profits like agriculture, infrastructure and manufacturing. 

Wrapping Up

The Indian economy has seen everything that could have brought the country into the potholes but with proper economic policies and reforms, India emerged victorious in its true meaning. From being an economy that contributed only 3.8% to the world economy to making its place in the top 5 economies in the world, Indian economists, policy planners and entrepreneurs deserve all the praise.

Today, India has its wings spread in all sectors to channelise its sole goal of making India “Atma Nirbhar” or “Self Reliant”. 

Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing. This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.

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