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India: development case study (1)

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India is an emerging country changing at great speed. This case study looks at its context and how its economy and population are changing.

Location and context

India is in South Asia, bordered by Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, with the Indian Ocean to the south.
It was a British colony until independence in 1947 and is the world's largest democracy.
In 2023 it became the world's most populous country.
It is very diverse, with many languages and religions.

Uneven development within India

Core regions, such as Maharashtra (Mumbai), Delhi and Karnataka (Bengaluru), are richer, with more industry and services.
Peripheral regions, such as Bihar, are poorer and more rural.
Core regions attract investment and migrants, which widens the gap: the core grows faster.

Economic and social change

Since economic reforms in 1991, India has opened to foreign trade and investment.
The share of jobs in farming (primary) has fallen, while manufacturing and services have grown. India is famous for IT and call-centre services, especially in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Indian TNCs such as Tata now invest abroad; Tata has owned Jaguar Land Rover since 2008.
The middle class is growing, education has improved, life expectancy has risen, and the fertility rate has fallen to about 2 children per woman.
Worked example

Explain why development is uneven within India.

  1. Core regions such as Maharashtra have ports, infrastructure and skilled workers.
  2. They attract investment from Indian and foreign companies.
  3. Peripheral regions such as Bihar remain more rural, with fewer jobs, so many people migrate to the core.

Answer: Investment concentrates in core regions, so they grow faster than the periphery.

Key idea

India: South Asia, independent since 1947, the world's largest democracy and most populous country. Development is uneven between core (Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka) and periphery (Bihar). Since 1991 reforms, services and manufacturing have grown, the middle class has expanded and fertility has fallen.

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