Unraveling the intricacies of inclusive growth within the UPSC framework, this exploration delves into the dynamic strategies fostering equitable development and societal advancement in contemporary contexts.
Understanding Inclusive Growth for UPSC Course
What is Inclusive Growth?
Inclusive Growth, as defined by UNDP, is “the process and result of all groups of people participating in the organization of growth and benefiting equitably from it.” This means that growth can be considered inclusive if all segments of society benefit from it.
UPSC Notes on Inclusive Growth
This concept is based on the belief that growth alone will not improve the lives of all citizens and that it must be accompanied by policies that ensure growth’s benefits are shared by all.
Introduction to Inclusive Development
Inclusive Growth is defined as the holistic development of a society that provides the best options for livelihood and employment.
Beneficiaries of Inclusive Growth have access to essential services such as good health, quality education, equal opportunities at work, and women’s empowerment through education and skill development.
The OECD defines Inclusive Growth as economic growth that is distributed fairly across society and creates opportunities for all.
Inclusive Growth is always focused on environmentally friendly growth and good governance, which contributes to the creation of a gender-sensitive society.
Components of Inclusive Growth
It is critical to identify and comprehend the key elements that contribute to inclusive growth in order to achieve it. We will look at some of the most important aspects of inclusive growth and their role in achieving long-term social development.
Development of Skills:
One of the components of Inclusive Growth is skill development. According to the economic survey, more than 31% of you in India were not enrolled in education, employment, or training in 2017.
According to a UNICEF report, more than 45% of Indian youth are uninterested in obtaining a quality education and the necessary skills for employment.
Due to a scarcity of highly trained workers and a lack of employment opportunities for conventionally trained workers, it is reasonable to believe that India faces a challenge in providing proper skill development to its workforce.
Technological Advancement:
Technological advancement is another component of Inclusive Growth. We are now entering the age of the industrial revolution. In the field of technology, we have options. Technological advancements can either increase or decrease inequality. That is dependent on how it is used. The Indian government has launched a number of initiatives.
Mission Digital India:
One of these is the digitally literate population, which will be able to use the economy to take advantage of fewer opportunities as a result of the digital India mission. The Digital India mission aims to provide digital literacy to the population so that it can fully utilize technology.
Agriculture:
The incorporation of modern technology in agriculture will greatly assist farmers in the field in producing high-quality crops. Agriculture can play a critical role in achieving inclusive growth by creating job opportunities and increasing rural income.
Education:
With the introduction of digital education, students are becoming acquainted with technology in their early stages of schooling, such as smart board learning and computers, which will aid them in learning the technology quickly. The education system in India is changing at a rapid pace as technology advances.
Social Advancement
When discussing technology in terms of social development, it includes marginalized populations such as SC, ST, OBC, women, and transgenders, and it provides them with the best technology options to learn new things. New schools, colleges, and various social structures such as hospitals and offices can be built to provide them with adequate working space.
India’s Economic Planning
India’s Poverty Estimation
Plans by the Government to Promote Inclusive Growth
Inclusive growth is a key driver of economic development, and governments all over the world have put in place various policies to encourage it. Some government initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive growth are listed below.
Digital India program
- Pradhanmantri Jivan Yojana Jyoti Bima
- Pradhanmantri Jivan Suraksha Yojana
- Atal Pension Yojana
- MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act)
- Self-Employment and Talent Utilization (SETU)
- Kisan Card
- PM Kissan Samman Nidhi
- Challenges for Inclusive Growth
While many countries have made progress toward inclusive growth, there are still numerous challenges to overcome, such as:
Poverty – Despite several steps taken by the Indian government, more than 300 million people in India are impoverished.
Unemployment – Unemployment is one of the most significant challenges to inclusive growth. Unemployment remains a serious issue due to a lack of skills and education.
Agriculture Backwardness – Due to declining soil degradation, climate change, and water scarcity, agriculture is not flourishing as it should.
Regional disparities – The caste system and regional disparities both contribute to the wealth gap and play a significant role in regional disparities. It is yet another obstacle to Inclusive Growth.
Measures for Promoting Inclusive Growth
As a developing country, India has made significant progress toward economic growth in recent years, but there is still a significant disparity in the distribution of wealth and resources. To address this issue, the Indian government has implemented a number of policies aimed at promoting Inclusive Growth. The main measures taken by the government to achieve Inclusive Growth are listed below.
- Prime Minister Employment Generation program
- National Health Mission
- Bharat Nirman
- Mission Ayushman
- Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan
- National Urban Livelihood Mission
In order to achieve Inclusive Growth, the government is actively collaborating with Non-governmental Organizations and International Organizations in policymaking. DISHA projects are being implemented. DISHA is being implemented in collaboration with the UNDP with the goal of creating entrepreneurial opportunities and job opportunities.
The NITI Aayog has begun work on the Strategy for New India@75, which includes the following Inclusive Growth objectives.
Rapid (9-10% by 2022-23) inclusive, sustainable, and clean growth.
Also Read: Define The Unit Of Current in Detail.
Inclusive Growth in UPSC Course
Civil Servants The exam assesses the candidate’s knowledge of the Indian economy, social and political structure, and e-governance system. Inclusive Growth refers to a growth process that includes all segments of society, especially the marginalized and vulnerable. UPSC candidates must understand the significance of inclusive growth in the context of India’s development, as well as the challenges that the country faces in ensuring equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. Candidates must learn the topic from both the standpoint of current events and the economics subject.