Skip to main content

State of the Indian Union

The world's largest democracy and second most populous country has emerged as a major power after centuries of colonial barbarianism which virtually bankrupt the country. After independence in 1947, India tried centralized planning and controlled economy. Government controlled quota regime which says what and how much has to be produced constrained the economic growth and investment.

The economic reforms started in 1980's produced a burgeoning urban middle class and has made great strides in fields such as information technology. Its large, skilled workforce makes it a popular choice for international companies seeking to outsource work. India launches its own satellites and plans to send a spacecraft to the moon. India also boasts a massive cinema industry, the products of which are among the most widely-watched films in the world.

As a country of over a billion people with one-third of the population under the age of 15 and median age just under 25 it has the best assets for development and prosperity. But the vast mass of the rural population remains illiterate and impoverished. 4 out of 10 people over the age of 15 are illiterate. It is higher in the rural areas. Their lives continue to be dominated by the ancient Hindu caste system, which assigns each person a fixed place in the social hierarchy.

India is a nuclear weapon state and it has continued conflict with Pakistan and border disputes with China.

Services are the major source of economic growth which accounts for more than half of India's output with less than one quarter of its labor force. About three-fifths of the work force is in agriculture and their living conditions didn't changed much.

As the fourth largest and second fastest growing economy in the world, India is an economic powerhouse that continues to expand at an unprecedented rate. Over the last ten years, its GNP grew around 7 percent per year – solidly outpacing its population growth of approx. 2 percent annually. While much of the population currently remains in the agricultural and allied sectors, but India is both a source of new talent and an attractive market, as millions of young and educated graduates enter the economy each year, helping transform the Indian economy into one of the global major players.

Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments here.

Popular Posts

Golden Mean

The golden mean is the idea that the best or most virtuous course lies between two extremes, one of excess and one of deficiency. It is associated with Aristotle’s ethics but also appears in other philosophical traditions. Aristotle’s golden mean is his idea that every moral virtue is a balanced state between two opposite vices: one of excess and one of deficiency. It is a practical guide for living well rather than a mathematical midpoint. Each virtue targets a ‘just right’ way of feeling and acting. Courage The virtue of courage is the mean between excessive fearlessness and excessive fear. A courageous person faces real dangers for good reasons but does not seek danger for its own sake. Temperance Temperance in pleasures lies between self‑indulgence and extreme abstinence. The temperate person enjoys pleasures in the right amount, at the right times, and for the right reasons, rather than either overindulging or denying all enjoyment. Generosity In everyday giving and sp...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Pause Principle

The Pause Principle is the practice of intentionally stopping and reflecting before acting. Pausing is a deliberate and strategic act that enables clarity, awareness, and better choices. It is a simple concept with profound implications for leadership, learning, and life. In a world addicted to speed, the idea of slowing down can feel like a failure. We praise hustle. We reward reaction. We glorify multitasking and speed as if they were synonymous with effectiveness. But the best decisions, the most powerful conversations, and the most transformative moments don’t come from speeding up. The term was coined by Kevin Cashman, a leadership coach and author of The Pause Principle: Step Back to Lead Forward. The term captures the essence of a powerful paradox: slowing down can speed up your effectiveness. When we pause, we engage the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for complex thinking, empathy, and decision-making. In contrast, reacting impulsively often activates t...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Gift of Suffering

Suffering is an uninvited guest that arrives at our doorstep, often without warning, and demands to be let in. It’s uncomfortable and painful, but can be a profound gift. Suffering is not just an obstacle to endure but a transformative force that shapes who we are and who we can become. The Universal Language of Suffering Suffering is universal, crossing cultures, eras, and circumstances. Suffering speaks a language we all understand. It can be viewed as a curse, something to escape or minimize. But suffering is an inevitable part of life, and it can be a gift. Ancient philosophies and spiritual traditions have long grappled with this notion. The Stoics saw adversity as a training ground for virtue, a chance to practice courage, patience, and wisdom. Buddhism teaches that suffering (dukkha) is intrinsic to life but also a pathway to enlightenment when approached with mindfulness. In modern psychology, concepts like post-traumatic growth highlight how people can emerge from har...
Post a Comment
Read more

Laws of Behavior Change

The Four Laws of Behavior Change is from James Clear’s Atomic Habits. These laws form a sequential loop that helps to make new behaviors more likely to start, stick, and repeat. Atomic Habits offers practical, science-backed strategies for building good habits and breaking bad ones through small, compounding changes. Habits form through a four-step loop: cue (trigger), craving (motivation), response (action), reward (satisfaction). Habits can be optimized or inverted to build good habits or break bad ones Law 1 : Make it Obvious (Cue) triggers awareness by designing visible prompts in your environment or routines. This starts the cycle, as unnoticed cues lead to no action. Law 2 : Make it Attractive (Craving) builds motivation by linking the behavior to dopamine-boosting anticipation. It amplifies the cue’s pull, turning notice into desire. Law 3 : Make it Easy (Response) lowers friction so the action flows naturally from craving. This ensures the craving leads to actual perform...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Backwards Law

The Backwards Law is the idea that the more you pursue or cling to something, the less likely you are to get it. Whether it’s happiness, love, success, or even sleep, the act of striving can feel like chasing a mirage. Conversely, when you let go of your desperate need for it, you often create the conditions for it to come to you naturally. It’s a counterintuitive principle rooted in the interplay of desire, resistance, and acceptance. We live in a world that constantly tells us to strive, to push harder, and to never give up on our goals. We are taught that success, happiness, and love are things to be pursued with relentless effort. What if the very act of chasing something is what pushes it further out of reach? It’s the counterintuitive idea that when you desperately want something, you are subconsciously signaling to yourself that you don’t have it, thus reinforcing a feeling of lack. This feeling of lack often leads to behaviors that are counterproductive to achieving your des...
Post a Comment
Read more

Nyaya Philosophy - The Art of Logical Thinking

Nyaya is one of the classical schools of Indian philosophy. At its core, Nyaya is a system of rational inquiry that explores things like: What is valid knowledge? How do we know what we know? How can we argue effectively, without falling into fallacies or confusion? Nyaya is a practical philosophy for clear thinking, careful dialogue, and living a life grounded in truth. The Foundations: Four Means of Knowledge Nyaya identifies four valid sources of knowledge (pramanas), a concept that sets it apart from many Western traditions. Perception (Pratyaksha) : What we directly observe with our senses. Inference (Anumana) : Logical reasoning from observation. Comparison/Analogy (Upamana) : Learning something by comparing it to something familiar. Verbal testimony (Shabda) : Trustworthy knowledge from a reliable authority, including scripture or an expert. These four pillars help define how Nyaya separates true knowledge from illusion, error, or blind belief. Logi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Egalitarianism

Egalitarianism is a broad political and moral philosophy that prioritizes equal moral worth and seeks to reduce or eliminate unjust inequalities in political power, resources, and opportunities. There are diverse interpretations about what exactly should be equalized and by what means. Core idea is all humans have equal fundamental worth, which should be reflected in fair treatment under the law and in distributions of resources or opportunities. Equality of opportunity and equality of outcome are two different ways egalitarians think about what should be made equal in a just society. They often overlap in practice, but they focus on different moral targets. Equality of opportunity Positions, rewards, and offices should be open to all under fair conditions. So people with similar talent and effort have similar chances, regardless of race, gender, family background, or class. Inequalities in results are then acceptable if they arise from people’s choices and efforts rather than fro...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Power of Discipline

Discipline is the ability to control your actions, emotions, and behaviors to align with your goals, even when you don’t feel like it. Discipline is the quiet, relentless force that turns dreams into realities, goals into accomplishments, and potential into action. In a world that glorifies instant gratification and quick fixes, discipline stands as a timeless virtue, demanding consistency, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to the long game. Discipline is often the unsung hero in the stories of great achievements. It’s not as glamorous as talent, not as fleeting as motivation, and not as celebrated as luck. Discipline is not about perfection; it’s about persistence. It’s the choice to show up, day after day, regardless of external circumstances or internal moods. Motivation might spark the desire to start, but discipline is what keeps you going when the spark fades. Discipline is the bridge between where you are and where you want to be. Without it, even the most brilliant ide...
Post a Comment
Read more

Seculocity

Seculocity is a term coined by David Zahl and it refers to the way modern society has created a new, secular religion centered around the pursuit of success, perfection, and control in various areas of life. He argues that many of the things we value and pursue, such as career success, perfect parenting, technological advancements, food trends, political activism, and romantic relationships, have taken on religious-like significance. These pursuits can be beneficial but they often lead to anxiety, guilt, and a sense of inadequacy when we inevitably fall short. We often place our hopes and dreams on these pursuits, believing that they will bring us happiness and fulfillment. However, when we inevitably fall short, we can experience a sense of spiritual emptiness and despair. Here are some of the book's key arguments: Performancism : The relentless pressure to be better, do more, and achieve more in all areas of life. This can lead to a constant feeling of falling short and a ne...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing. It is about using language in a way that influences others' thoughts and behaviors. Aristotle is considered one of the founding fathers of rhetoric. His work "Rhetoric" provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the art of persuasion. Aristotle's Three Modes of Persuasion Ethos : Establishing credibility and trustworthiness. This involves demonstrating expertise, good character, and goodwill towards the audience. Logos : Using reason and logic to persuade. This involves presenting evidence, arguments, and reasoning to convince the audience. Pathos : Appealing to emotions. This involves evoking feelings and emotions in the audience to connect with them on a personal level. Aristotle's Five Canons of Rhetoric: Invention : The process of discovering and developing ideas for a speech or writing. Arrangement : The organization of the speech or writing, including the introduction, bod...
Post a Comment
Read more