Introduction

“A developed India by 2020, or even earlier, is not a dream. It need not be a mere vision in the minds of many Indians. It is a mission we can all take up and succeed.” - Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

India a nation of Democracy, Demography and Diversity has been a land of immense potential since its inception. From being a 5th largest economy around the globe; to being a face of Global South in the present era, it has started it’s journey towards “Vikshit Bharat i,e A Vision of Developed India by 2047.”

The vision of ‘Vikshit Bharat’ or ‘Developed India’ stands as a beacon of progress, prosperity and inclusivity and lies the holistic approach towards development encompassing economic growth, social justice, technological advancement, religious and cultural harmony and diversity, the sustainable environment, sound democratic system, and judicial reforms. It encapsulates the collective aspirations of a nation poised for transformative growth. It envisions a nation where every citizen has access to opportunities for growth and prosperity, regardless of their socio-economic background or geographical location.

In recent decades, India has made significant strides in various sectors, hindering the realization of its full potential. Thus, against this background, the vision of Vikshit Bharat emerges as a ray of hope, outlining a roadmap for inclusive and sustainable development across all spheres of society. Thus, as a nation, India embarks on this transformative journey, concerted efforts from government, civil society, and the private sector are essential to realize the vision of a Vikshit Bharat for generations to come.

This article explores the multifaceted dimensions that have shaped India and delve into the aspirations of Developed India in 2047 fondly referred to as “Vikshit Bharat: A Vision of Developed India by 2047”.

Historical Background

India has a rich and diverse historical background, spanning thousands of years and is being shaped by the millennia of civilization, cultures, religions, conquests and cultural exchange. It has been the home of the world’s oldest civilizations- the Indus valley civilization which flourished around 2500 BCE. From over the centuries to the present day Republic of India the subcontinent has witnessed a complex tapestry of events viz; the rise and fall of various empires, spread of various religions and confluence of cultures, that has shaped its identity and recognized it to the world at large. Hence, key aspects and events in the Indian history may be enumerated under following heads:

1. Indian Economic History and Development

In the words of Chanakya, he referred India to as a “golden bird”. As the word reflects, it can be judged that Indian economic stance has undergone a remarkable journey from the ancient to the contemporary times, shaped by various shifts in economic structures, policies and influences. Therefore, it can be classified through various eras.

• Ancient period: In the ancient period, the economy of India was predominantly agrarian-based, with the civilization’s prosperity linked to the fertile river and valleys. Further, the Indus valley civilization has been a boon of agriculture, trade and craftsmanship in India, evidenced by well-planned cities and urbanized societies. In addition to it, the contributions made by Gupta and Mauryan empires often referred to as India’s Golden Age, in the fields of trading and commerce routes through Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean Sea, do foster economic prosperity and cultural exchange.
• Medieval period: India has witnessed the rise of various dynasties during the medieval period including, the Cholas, Vijayas, Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Dynasty, each contributing to economic development through trade, culture and craftsmanship. Also, the discovery of the Silk Route, connecting India to the Central Asia, China and Middle East contributed towards growth in trade and commerce. The Mughal Dynasty, known for its administrative powers had provided stability to the agrarian economies through the implementation of various land revenue systems. Additionally, it is said that during the reign of Aurangzeb, the ruler of Mughal Dynasty Indian Subcontinent do contributes to 25% of the world’s GDP.
• Colonial period: With the advent of the East India Company, the Indian economy marked a stagnated shift. The colonial rule contributed towards deindustrialization, exported of raw materials, consumer market of British expensive finished goods and imposition of high taxes and tariffs favouring the British interests. Further, the introduction of more cash crops like indigo and the minimum production of food crops do adversely impacted the agricultural market of India and thus, lead to famines as well.
• Post-independence period: In the year 1947, India entered a new era of economic policies and reforms aimed at development and self-sufficiency. The government of India, at that time pursued the Mixed Model of Economy, with a more focus towards the state-led enterprises, domestic economy and small scale industries through the initiatives like Five Year Plan. Further, in order to boost more economic initiatives and fields, India embarked new economic reforms (LPG) Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization under the chairmanship of Dr. Manmohan Singh which unleashed the foreign investment, entrepreneurial spirit, technological advancements and integrated India into the global economy.

2. Indian Social, Religious and Cultural History and Development

India has been a land of diversified religions, cultures and civilizations since beginning and the development of the traditions, beliefs and practices has been woven over thousands of years, shaped by various influences, historical events and civilizations. From the ancient to the present era, India’s evolution has been shaped by a blend of indigenous cultures, invasions, migrations and colonial influence and may be enumerated as:

• Prehistoric Era: Ancient India can be dated backed to the Indus Valley civilization, one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations. This age witnessed the emergence of sophisticated urban planning, trade networks and craftsmanship. Later, during the Vedic Period, saw the composition of Vedas and sacred texts, which laid the foundation of the Hinduism as a religion, shaping the spiritual and social life. Further, with the advent of the Mauryan and Gupta period, it marked the political and cultural growth with a notable achievements in the fields of art, science, mathematics and literature. Also, the contribution of Ashoka, can be seen as a major promoter of Buddhism, the principles of non-violence and religious tolerance, which leaved a lasting legacy in the Indian religious arena.
• Medieval Era: This era has profoundly seen as the era of Muslim rulers with the major ruling contribution of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Dynasty. During this period, Islamic religion spread throughout the subcontinent, influencing the culture, architecture and language. The Bhakti and the Sufi movements further promoted spiritual unity, minimized caste and creed divisions and flourished the social harmony among the sections of society. The Mughals further renowned for their architectural splendor, fostered a rich cultural environment, with contributions in urdu poetry. Also, the noble literary works like Ramayana, Mahabharta and Persian poetry flourished during this period.
• Colonial Era: A pivotal turning point in the Indian history has been marked by the arrival of the colonial powers to India. A numerous changes were bought especially by the British Colonial Administration to the Indian culture, society, and economy as well. Further, they also contributed towards the inculcation of modern education, gave legal shape to the religions, bought changes in the Indian judicial and governance system, bring a new shape to the transportation and the infrastructural set up, but all these changes were bought just to serve the interests of the British administration and to suppress local industries. Hence, as a result, the Indian independence Movement aimed to overthrow the colonial rule and restore Indian autonomy which ultimately fueled a sense of national identity and unity among the people. And thus, culminating the India’s independence in 1947 and the subsequent partition leading to the creation of India and Pakistan.
• Post-Independence Era: Post 1947, India embarked its journey of independence with a sense of nation-building, and grappling with the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, food insecurity, health issues and social inequality. Thus, with the formation of the Constitution of India, India adopted a framework of democratic, secular, republic and sovereign nation, with the principles of justice, liberty and equality, thus laying a cornerstone of diverse religious and cultural landscape. Further, the post-independence era has witnessed rapid industrialization, technological advancements and green revolution thus transforming the agrarian economy to a diversified one. Also, in order to address the historical issues and injustices, India embarked the policies of affirmative actions, thus promoting social equality among castes and communities.

3. Indian Political History and Development

The Indian Political History is been architected by rise and fall of numerous dynasties, kingdoms and empires. It has been shaped by various conquests, invasions, socio-cultural changes and the struggle for independence. It is a tapestry woven with diverse civilizations, ideologies, spanning over thousands of years. Thus from ancient civilization to the modern democracy, the Indian Political landscape has evolved through various stages, shaping its socio-economic fabric and political identity. Further, the history and development of political system in India can be well explained from ancient to the post independence era in the following stances:

• Prehistoric Period: The sophisticated political system such as the Mauryan and Gupta empires, has been witnessed in the ancient period, which was characterized by centralised authority, efficient administration and cultural patronage. The Mauryan empires during the reign of Chnagragupta Maurya and latterly Ashoka has unified much of the Indian subcontinent. Further, the Gupta and the Chola empires has further made certain political contributions and is also known for its advancements in the feilds of art, science, maths, literature and art.
• Medieval Period: The medieval era has seen the rise of the various dynasties like Cholas, Pallavas, Chalukyas and then Islamic Sultanates, starting with the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century and then the Mughal Empire till the colonial period. These regimes introduced the Persianate administrative structures, blending indigenous practices with foreign influences. The Mughals in particular, established a strong centralized state, administrative innovations, fostering cultural syncretism and architectural splendour, optimized by monuments like Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Red Fort etc.
• Colonial Period: The colonial regime in India is started with the arrival of the East India Company as a trading unit in the 1600’s. Through the combination of diplomacy, military conquest and economic exploitation, the British gradually extended their control in the Indian territories. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 marked a pivotal moment in the struggle against British Imperialism, leading to the direct administration of India by the British Crown, leading Indians being marginalized from governance.
• Independence Movement and Partition: The 20th century has marked the dawn of the independence struggle against British rule through the non-violent resistance and the civil disobedience movement. The key figures in the movement were Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose. Thus, the struggle culminated in India independence in 1947, accompanied by the partition of British India into present day India and Pakistan, leading to one of the largest migrations in human history, communal violence, leaving behind the legacy of unresolved tensions.
• Post-independence period: With the arrival of the independence, India adopted the democratic parliamentary system along with a written constitution which came into effect in 1950. Jawaharlal Nehru, being the first Prime Minister, oversaw the nation building process, emphasizing secularism, socialism and non alignment in the foreign policy. Despite challenges such as regionalism, linguistic diversities and socio-economic disparities, India maintained political stability through periodic elections and coalition governments. Further in 1970’s India has witnessed the authoritarian regime, under Indira Gandhi’s tenure and the subsequent decades saw economic liberalization in 1990’s thus transitioning India towards market-oriented economy, attracting foreign investment and experiencing rapid urbanization.

Contemporary India & Contributive Dimensions in the Vision of Vikshit Bharat

1. Economic Growth, Prosperity and Empowerment

The vision of developed India envisages the attainment of an economic growth, prosperity and empowerment characterized by inclusive and sustained GDP growth, equal distribution of wealth, leveraging the demographic dividend, employment opportunities and inclusive development of rural and urban India. Simultaneously, achieving these goals required a multifaceted approach viz;

1. Attracting the foreign direct investments: It will ultimately help the Indian economy to develop in a robust manner in the sense that it will attract the foreign companies to invest directly in India thereby minimizing the India’s dependence on the foreign goods and services.
2. Infrastructure development: It refers to the development of ports, roads and energy facilities which will contribute towards employment opportunities and hence improve the rural sector in India.
3. Reform in agriculture, manufacturing and service sector: The GDP of a country is wholly contributed by these sectors and do form the structural composition of the economy. Hence, timely reforms in these sectors do have India to achieve the heights of development.
4. Development in the health care facilities: Healthcare development directly enhances the supply of healthy labor force which is considered as a main source for the economic development of a nation. Further the reforms in the health care facilities do help to produce a “healthy nation with healthy economy.”
5. Educational Opportunities: In view of various economists, expanding the educational opportunities in a nation accelerate the development process and do contribute towards the robust economic development.
6. Current Scenario: India has recently reached to the stage of 5th largest economy around the world with an economy of 5 Trillion Dollars.

2. Social Justice and Human Development

The dignity and well being of all the citizens is one such arena that must be prioritized as India marches towards a developed nation. The strategies for the promotion of social justice and human development do require a multidimensional approach in the following areas:

1. Equal access of opportunities: Ensuring equal access in the areas of health, education, employment regardless of religion, race, caste, sex, language and place of birth do enhance the well-being of all citizens.
2. Empowering marginalized group: A must characteristic for a nation in the race towards its development is implementing affirmative actions and programs in favor of backward classes as it can help to bridge social and economic disparities.
3. Women empowerment: The inclusive development and social justice of a nation can be promoted directly by ensuring gender equality and ensuring the equal participation of women folk in decision making process as it can directly pave the way for a diversified idea of Vikshit Bharat.
4. Current Scenario: According to the report of McKinsey Health Institute, the GDP of India will be doubled if women participation is ensured in the workforce.

3. Technological Advancement

Technology fuels the nation’s quest for excellence. In the pursuit of Vikshit Bharat, harnessing the power of technology will be paramount. India envisions itself as a global hub for research and development, digitalization, space exploration, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and clean energy.

Further, the focus on key technological areas do play a significant role in driving progress and development in Vikshit Bharat:

1. E-Governance: To uphold the notion of transparency, accountability and administrative efficiency in the government departments, e-governance implementation do contribute towards citizen-friendly services and help in contributing towards technological advancements.
2. Research and Development: Leveraging research and development in sectors of agriculture, education, healthcare and finance do enhance productivity, service delivery and decision making processes that will ultimately contribute towards development and growth.
3. Skill Development and Innovation: Imparting the skilled education and developing innovative skills among the youth with a more focus on AI, cybersecurity, blockchain and data science by collaboration in between academia, industry and government would encourage the technological field and conduce in the vision of Vikshit Bharat.

In addition to it, digital revolution has an ability to foster digital inclusion, reforming legal and governance areas and revolutionizing the society and the citizens. Simultaneously the area of cyber security must be held strong to ensure the legal and the genuine competitiveness in the technological field round the globe.

Current Scenario: The soft landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the South Pole of Moon is one of the achievements in which India has registered its name.

4. Religious and Cultural Harmony and Diversity

India is a homeland to a myriad of cultures, religion and diversities. In the vision of Vikshit Bharat the harmony among the religions and diversities embrace the pillars of strength and unity. The replacement of division and discord & the inclusion of dialogue and cooperation do foster the growth of a nation to new heights. Further, it encourages and flourishes the principle of equity which holds a significant place in the Objective Resolution and the 5 Year Plans of the nation. In addition to it the government policies must prioritize the protection and preservation of minority groups and must contribute towards building a bud of appreciation of cultural heritage and richness in the following sense:

1. Pluralistic Society, Tolerance and Respect: The vision of Vikshit Bharat must embrace the culture of pluralism while accommodating various religions and cultures within its social fabric and also fostering peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding in order to value the core aspect of tolerance and respect for different faiths and cultures.
2. Interfaith Dialogue and Cultural Exchanges: A strong tradition of interfaith dialogue would help in encouraging discussions among people from various backgrounds and certainly cultural exchange programs would help people to learn about diversity of various religions and cultures.
3. Educational Institutions: Education is one such tool which imbibe a sense of knowledge, harmony and understanding in students. Thus holding all such social festival programs in the institutions would contribute towards the unity and development of India.

Ensuring that every voice must be heard and every tradition must be valued; India as a Vikshit Bharat must not only strengthen its social fabric but also promote it’s global standing as a beacon of pluralism and tolerance.

• Current Scenario: India has been ranked as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ by US Commission on International Religious Freedom consecutively for the 4th time. Although, the recommendations are rejected by Indian Government.

5. Sound Democratic and Political System

A robust and sound political system in the vision of Vikshit Bharat or Developed India is one which will prevent authoritarianism and uphold rule of law. It includes a basic set of political and democratic dimensions and principles like ensuring transparency, inclusivity and accountability. It ensures the governance, representation and protection of rights of individuals must be paramount responsibility of the authorities and the following can be ensured in the directive steps:

• Constitutional Framework and Rule of Law: The pure idea of Vikshit Bharat may be achieved by exercising the notion of well defined constitutional outlines i;e the structure of parliament, the separation of powers and the protection of fundamental rights. Further, all the instrumentalities of the government must be subjected to and accountable to the law in order to upload the sovereignty and integrity of nation.
• Protection of Minorities and Citizen Participation: Every single citizen of India must be given equal opportunities and rights to ensure the development of a nation in real sense and the same can be achieved by ensuring the equal participation of individuals from all folks and communities in the democratic decisions for healthy governance and order.
• Peaceful Transfer of Power & Transparency and Accountability: Mechanisms for the peaceful transfer of power can be exercised through free and fair elections thereby, demonstrating stability and resilience of the democratic system. Also, operating transparently and being accountable towards public for the actions and decisions do maintain a robust democratic system.
• Henceforth, a vigorous democratic system is considered as a cornerstone and bedrock for the sustainable growth, development and progress of a nation.
• Current Scenario: India as a nation is considered as one of the largest democracies in the world and hence envisages this concept in the Preamble of the Constitution.

6. Sustainable Environment

It is often quoted that, “Development by degrading environment is not desirable”, hence, in the pursuit of Developed India, we must prioritize environment sustainability to ensure long term growth and resilience. The sustainable development in Vikshit Bharat entails considering environmental parameters in policy making and planning processes which includes promoting clean energy sources like solar and wind energy and reduced dependence on fossil fuels like coal for the generation of energy. Furthermore the preservation of natural ecosystem, biodiversity and addressing the issues related to pollution and waste management must be achieved. Additionally, the following steps are also needed to back the environmental threats:

Rural Development: In order to reduce the menace of urbanisation, rural development is a must for attaining a goal of sustainable environment in Vikshit Bharat. India “a land of villages” must shift its focus towards sustainable agricultural practices, eco tourism and rural livelihood programs in order to reduce migration and natural habitats.

• Green Infrastructure and Transportation: Constructing eco-friendly urban planning and investing in green spaces and buildings do raise livability and resilience to climate change. Also, focusing more towards public transportation, electric vehicles and non-pollution vehicles do help in maintaining and continuing a good environment towards new generation.
• Renewable Energy: Reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and embracing the solar, wind and other sources of renewable energy do surely help to mitigate the challenges of climate change and help in building a vigorous and sustainable environment.
• Furthermore, the implementation and enforcement of environment friendly policies, the awareness among the people and focusing on the practices of recycling, do further help to maintain the ecological balance, resilient environment and safeguard India’s natural heritage for future generations.
• Current Scenario: India as a active member of Paris Agreement has committed itself to achieve the goal of net-zero carbon by 2070 and generation of 450 Gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030 with a main focus on solar energy.

7. Judicial Reforms

The Constitution of India envisages the right to equality, life and liberty to all the citizens irrespective of their caste, colour, creed, religion, language, sex or place of birth. Therefore, in the context of Vikshit Bharat, every citizen must be ensured equitable, fair, efficient and accessible justice system. The judiciary in Vikshit Bharat serves as a bulwark against the infringement of legal and fundamental rights. It ensures that every law framed by the parliament must be consistence with the Constitution and uphold the constitutional values and rule of law. Further the notions of transparency, accountability and integrity are the essential values which need to be inculcate to uphold the public trust and confidence in the judiciary.

The Indian Judiciary plays a pivotal role in maintaining legal and judicial framework of a nation but certain challenges needs to be addressed by various reforms in the system.

• Case Management: The backlog and the pendency of cases has reached its peak, therefore implementing efficient case management strategies do reduce backlog and expedite the judicial process.
• Training and Capacity Building: In order to increase efficiency and competency in the judicial system, capacity building and training is must and simultaneously, the vacancy of various judicial officers need to be filled to ensure the timely justice.
• Technology Integration: To ensure easy accessibility and justice to every citizen, online filing of cases, e-court proceedings and digital case management must be ensured in the digital era of 21st century.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution and Legal Aid: Promoting the ADR mechanisms like arbitration, conciliation, negotiation to provide faster resolution for disputes and enhancing the legal aid services to poor, marginalised and downtrodden sections of society is a must for developing India uniformly.
• In addition to it, various legal literacy initiatives, outreach programs and community participation do foster the public awareness and reliability upon the system.
• Current Scenario: In accordance to the report presented by Law Minister in Lok Sabha, 5Crore cases are pending within the Indian courts 80,000 of which are along pending within Supreme Court.

Challenges In The Roadmap Of Vikshit Bharat

Achieving a comprehensive developed status for India is a complicated task with several challenges along the way:

1. Firstly, India grapples with the economic disparities, with a large portion of population living under the below poverty line. Thus, bridging the financial gap between all the sections of society and developing the economic equity and inclusivity is the crucial challenge in the way for development.
2. Secondly, providing quality healthcare remains a challenge in India since its independence especially in rural and remote areas. Addressing the issues of lacked healthcare professionals and affordability of healthcare services is essential for improving the human resource, that will ultimately contribute towards developing India.
3. Thirdly, imparting education and skill development, especially among the youth is essential for building a skilled man force. Also, the reduction of unemployment rate, providing enhanced vocational training and improving the quality of education is also a crucial step towards attainment of the goal of Vikshit Bharat.
4. Fourthly, the substantial investment and improvement towards the infrastructure development and the digital infrastructure in rural as well as urban areas is essential for better connectivity, social progress, fostering innovation, research and development as it will ultimately leverage the potential of growth and development in achieving Vikshit Bharat.Lastly, the environmental challenges such as air pollution, deforestation, climate change is one of the live challenges India is facing in this century. Hence, curbing this menace by adopting the sustainable practices and effective environmental policies are vital to attain the Vision of Vikshit Bharat in the real sense.

Further, addressing the issues of corruption & inefficiency in government and caste-based discrimination, gender inequality and social exclusion is crucial for fostering social cohesion and inclusive development.

Way Forward To Overcome Challenges

Overcoming the challenges on the way to achieve the vision of ‘Vikshit Bharat’ requires a multidimensional approach. Various collaborative efforts from various stakeholders and implementation of policies by government authorities is the need of the hour. Hence, the roadmap to overcome challenges may include:

1. Economic reforms: Implementation of various economic policies that promote inclusive economic growth and development and investing in agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors is a must. Further, encouraging the entrepreneurship, innovation and skill development to create employment opportunities for youth is needed to be done in order to achieve the goal of Vikshit Bharat.
2. Investment in infrastructure: Investment in infrastructure development do pave the way for business growth and development. Further, it would help in maintaining the export-import area and will ultimately enhance the quality of life of citizens and spur the foreign investment in the country.
3. Enhancing the education and skill development: Education is a boon for the development of a nation. Imparting the education and skill development in the students and focusing on the vocational training to meet the demand of the job evolving market along with public private partnership play a significant role in this regard.
4. Promoting healthcare facilities: Ensure universal access to quality healthcare by strengthening healthcare infrastructure, expanding healthcare coverage and improving healthcare delivery systems is needed to ensure a healthy and skilled manforce. Further, investing in preventive healthcare and public health initiatives and policies do need to be focused on.
5. Adopting environment sustainable schemes: In order to mitigate the issues of environmental degradation and combating the challenges of climate change, the adoption of sustainable practices are mandatory. Promoting the use of renewable energy, conservation of biodiversity and natural resources and adopting the eco friendly technologies is a must step in this era of 21st century.

Also, overcoming and addressing the issues of social inequalities through the policies of social inclusion, and empowerment of marginalized communities do contribute towards the development of India. Further, strengthening the democratic values and enhancing the transparency and accountability in governance and implementation of anti-corruption measures and streamlining the bureaucratic processes is also needed in strengthening the roadmap towards Vikshit Bharat.

Conclusion

Building Vikshit Bharat- A Vision of Developed India is not merely a dream but a tangible goal within reach. India being the fastest growing economies in this era do possesses immense potential to transform into a prosperous, inclusive and globally influential society. It is a path, adorned with opportunities ahead with challenges. However, the presence of concerted efforts, visionary leadership and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders do combat the obstacles and make India emerge as a beacon of progress and prosperity.

At the heart of the vision does not merely require economic growth but the holistic development that uplifts all sections of society and ensures a sustainable future for generations to come. Further, it requires a paradigm shift in governance, policies, regulations and societal attitude to address the multifaceted challenges that confront the nation.

Additionally, India in this era of 21st century aspires to become a developed nation, hence, it must embrace its role as a responsible global citizen as well. The active participation in international forums, contributing towards peace, security and humanitarian concerns can further assert India’s leadership on the world stage and do shape a better future towards humanity.

To conclude with, it can be said that India can indeed fulfil its destiny as a Vikshit Bharat, but with the maintenance of values of determination, perseverance and a shared vision of progress because it is not merely a destination but a continuous process of evolution and transformation. Further, India must stay true to its values of democracy, secularism, equality and social justice in this journey of development in order to forge a path towards a brighter and resilient future.

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References:

• NCERT Textbook -Indian Economic Development
• NCERT Textbook- Ancient India & Medieval India
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• https://www.indiabudget.gov.in