India’s Tryst with Development: The Years before Economic Reforms

Author(s)	Dr. Manish Kumar
Country	India
Abstract	India’s pursuit of economic development, the evolution of its vibrant democracy and the consequential impact on its diverse society presents a unique experience in world history in so far as its continued economic flourishing and democratic survival even after seventy-five years is concerned. Indian political and economic evolution differs from the European experience where democracy took root only after these societies had reached a certain level of economic development and a consequent political consciousness with regards to state formation and nationhood had already emerged. In a contrasting development, India adopted universal suffrage soon after independence blending it with an economic development strategy that relied on the heavy hand of the state in the economy. The markets were a given subservient role in the first four decades until the launch of the economic reforms in 1991 when the floodgates of the economy were opened to foreign trade and investment, and domestic liberalization measures adopted.
Keywords	Democracy, Socialism, Development, Capitalism, Economics, Politics, Economic Reforms, Democratic Socialism
Field	Sociology > Economics
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On	2026-02-01

About AIJFR Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+91-9898-79-39-59	editor@aijfr.com

Advanced International Journal for Research