ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF FORTITUDE

India has come a long way since it became free in 1947. Its dream of becoming a developed country—while still distant—is now clear. THE WEEK takes a pe k into the future to paint a picture of India at 100

- PRATUL SHARMA

With all its contradictions and diversity, India has fascinated many. British economist and Indophile Joan Robinson, who observed India around the time the republic turned 25, remarked: “Whatever you can say rightly about India, its opposite is also true.” The statement appears to have stood the test of time as we celebrate the 78th Independence Day. It may still hold true when India turns 100 in 2047.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had coined the term Viksit Bharat to nudge the country’s policy-making and political narrative towards building a developed nation and becoming the next superpower by 2047. A country with US$30 trillion economy by 2047, with a per capita income of US$18,000 per annum.

To meet the ambitious $30 trillion target, the GDP would have to grow nine times from today’s $3.36 trillion, and the per capita income would need to rise eight times from the current $2,392 per annum. Experts believe that it is a political target that would require deft manoeuvring and some big reforms. India, which has overtaken China in terms of population earlier than estimated, would overtake the US to become the second largest economy if it hits the GDP target.