India’s Development Experience - A Regional Analysis: An essay in honour of Prof. Ashok Mathur

Wide regional variation has been a major characteristic of development experience in India. In the present study, the multidimensional facet of development is sought to be reflected through composite indices of development. It deals with the development trends exhibited at the National as well as Regional level during the period 1971-1995 with special focus on regional disparity in development levels. Considerable variation in the levels of development - both across states and also within each state is perceived. The disparity seems to be widening over time, specially in the post-reform period. Providing adequate infrastructural facilities, shift from Central Planning to Multilevel Planning, and breaking the myth of trade-off between growth and equity are some of the emerging policy suggestions.