India’s rise as a major economy is not limited to its GDP growth, digital advancement or expansion of geopolitical influence, but there has been a quiet revolution of inclusion. It is about expanding access to education, health services, political representation and welfare programs to women, children, and minority communities.
It has not been an easy task for the country with a population of over 1.4 billion. Yet, even gradual improvements in relation to inclusive development have impacted the lives of millions of people. India’s progress in inclusive development is more significant if it is viewed in the light of the conditions when the country got independence in 1947. India was one of the poorest and most divided societies in the world.
India has one of the world’s highest shares of women STEM graduates. The share is higher than that of many developed countries, with Indian women accounting for around 43 percent of STEM graduates. Besides wider schooling coverage, India has ensured that the child-mortality rate has reduced by 78 percent in the past three decades, which is much better than the global average of 60.6 percent.
The holistic development approach of the government programs and schemes did not discriminate on the basis of religion, colour or race. People from minority communities have also benefited from inclusive development. The literacy rate among minority Muslims was almost 80 percent in 2023-24 an increase of 20 percentage points in two decades. Besides Sri Lanka, India has the highest literacy rate among Muslims in South Asia.
India has always strived hard for inclusive development since its independence, and it has made notable strides in recent years to advance the rights and opportunities of women, children, and minority communities. The commitment to the mission is enshrined in the Indian Constitution through guarantees of equality, non-discrimination, and affirmative action. Despite its vast and unique challenges, India has demonstrated a resilient journey through measurable progress in policy implementation and social participation.
There are stringent legal mechanisms to prevent any kind of harassment and exploitation of women, with key initiatives including Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) which aims to improve the child sex radio and girl education coverage. Moreover, women are supported with financial aid and privileged facilities for housing, self-help, and other benefits.
India has made remarkable progress in reducing the gender gap with significantly improved female literacy, growing participation in banking services and increased female labor force participation. In what could be called one of the largest expansions of women’s education in human history, India succeeded in taking female literacy from just 8.9 percent to 70 percent in seven decades.
The magnitude of the immunization program, schooling infrastructure and nutrition support can be gauged from the fact that India is home to the world’s largest child population, about 460 million. There has been a sharp decrease in the cases of stunting and wasting among Indian children in the past three decades, outpacing many global and regional averages. POSHAN Abhiyaan, Samagra Shiksha, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and the Right to Education (RTE) Act are key features and driving forces for inclusive development for children.
India has taken strong measures to improve access for the marginalized groups and religious minorities to education, health, political representation and social opportunities. The implementation of inclusive policies in India was a challenging task thanks to its immense diversity in terms of caste, religion, language, ethnicity, and regional identities.
With the motto of ‘SabkaSaath, Sabka Vikas’ (Together with all, development for all) and constitutional guarantees of equality, India has proved its commitment to provide marginalized groups and religious minorities with equal civic, financial and political opportunities, thus ensuring inclusive development in letter and spirit.
India ranked fourth in the world in terms of income equality, with the country successfully lifting about 171 million people out of poverty in just 12 years. India has a robust reservation system in the education and employment sectors to ensure that no marginalized group is left behind in the mainstream development process. It is one of the world’s largest and longest-running affirmative action programs.
In what could be called a landmark step in inclusive development, India has reserved 33 percent of electoral seats for woman in its parliament and state assemblies. It is going to drive broader participation, amplify women-centric policies as well as ensure that women from marginalized groups and minority segment get better representation. India has shown the world that inclusive development is not merely a policy goal or a symbolic gesture, but the very foundation of a strong, prosperous, and equitable society.
