UPSC Mains 2019 GS2 Q6 — Human Development
Despite Consistent experience of high growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive.
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Examine
- Scope keywords
- Consistent experience of high growthlowest indicators of human developmentbalanced and inclusive developmentelusive
- Implicit sub-parts
- Briefly illustrate the 'Growth-Development Paradox' using specific metrics like GDP vs. HDI or GHI rankings.
- Analyze structural bottlenecks (economic, social, and administrative) that prevent growth from trickling down.
- Evaluate the 'Jobless Growth' phenomenon and its impact on income inequality.
- Identify regional and gender-based disparities that hinder 'balanced' development.
- Common pitfalls
- Spending too much time listing India's GDP growth rates instead of focusing on why development is lagging.
- Generic descriptions of poverty without linking them to the 'high growth' context provided in the prompt.
- Ignoring the word 'balanced' and failing to mention regional/state-wise disparities (e.g., BIMARU vs. Southern states).
- Failing to mention specific indicators like stunting, wasting, or out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare.
- Dimensions required
- Economic (structural transformation)Sociological (caste and gender barriers)Administrative (implementation leakage)Geopolitical (regional imbalances)Educational (skill-mismatch)
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 30 words to establish the growth-development gap with data. Use 90 words for a multi-dimensional analysis of the 'elusive' factors (the core of the question). Reserve the final 30 words for a forward-looking conclusion on bridging the gap through 'caring' economics.
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