Development Experience of India and its Neighbours

About this unit

This unit compares India's development path with those of two large neighbours, Pakistan and China. All three started their planned development at about the same time, but they followed different strategies and achieved different results. Comparing growth, population, sectoral structure and human development indicators helps us judge India's own experience.

Key ideas

• India and Pakistan became independent in 1947; the People's Republic of China was established in 1949.
• All three used planning: India from 1951, China from 1953 and Pakistan from 1956.
• China's Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution and the reforms from 1978 shaped its path.
• Pakistan's mixed economy saw nationalisation in the 1970s and reforms from 1988.
• China's growth was led by manufacturing; India's and Pakistan's by services.
• China generally scores better on human development indicators.

How to prepare

Learn the key dates and policies of each country, and the main reasons for differences in growth and human development. Expect comparison questions and statement-based questions about policy choices.