Economic Development

This editorial examines the expanding influence of artificial intelligence on contemporary social, professional, cultural, and environmental life. It considers both the opportunities and risks associated with the rapid development and normalization of AI, with particular attention to human connection, critical thinking, artistic expression, employment, algorithmic bias, discrimination, and environmental sustainability. The discussion highlights concerns surrounding dependence on personalized AI systems, the reproduction of biases through data driven algorithms, the growing resource demands of data centres, and the changing nature of employment in an increasingly technology driven economy. Alongside these contemporary concerns, the issue of the Indian Journal of Social Enquiry presents a diverse collection of scholarly contributions addressing education, history, democracy, gender, environmental movements, public finance, literature, ecology, and community based conservation. The featured studies examine theatre based education, the historical contribution of Zorawar Singh, democratic legitimacy among youth in Nepal and Sri Lanka, ecofeminist interpretations of Indian environmental movements, the fiscal impact of GST in Gujarat, poetry and ecological conflict in Northeast India, and community conserved areas. Collectively, the issue encourages critical social enquiry by connecting contemporary challenges with historical experiences and emerging perspectives on progress, development, citizenship, culture, and sustainability.

The global trading system has undergone significant transformations in response to economic shocks, trade tensions, and changing patterns of international economic relations. This article examines India’s economic resilience in the context of recent global trade disruptions, with particular attention to the tariff measures imposed by the United States in 2025 and their implications for Indian industries. It traces the evolution from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade to the establishment of the World Trade Organization and discusses the opportunities and vulnerabilities created by increasing global economic interdependence. The analysis highlights the impact of higher tariffs on Indian sectors such as gems and jewellery, leather, footwear, marine products, chemicals, and automobile components, while also noting the relative protection provided to pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, energy resources, and critical minerals. The article further evaluates the contribution of initiatives including Make in India, Skill India, Production Linked Incentive schemes, and Atmanirbhar Bharat in strengthening domestic manufacturing, employment, investment, and supply chain resilience. These measures have encouraged local production, attracted investment, supported small and medium enterprises, and reduced dependence on imported goods in selected strategic sectors. The article argues that a balanced policy approach combining economic self reliance with market diversification and international trade engagement can improve India’s capacity to withstand external economic shocks. Strengthening domestic capabilities while maintaining diversified international partnerships may therefore provide a sustainable foundation for India’s long term economic growth and global competitiveness.

In more than half century since its Independence, India has accomplished many notable social and economic achievements. Among these are the eradication of widespread famine, a reduction in population growth, some lowering of caste barriers to economic opportunity and the creation of a large pool of technical and scientific talent. While it has also managed to reduce poverty in that period, only since 1975, when growth accelerated, has the decline been fairly steady. India's progress in fighting poverty has been modest when compared with some of its Asian neighbours. Between 1970 and 1993, for example, the proportion of Indonesia's population living in poverty dropped from 58 to 8 percent, an annual decline of nearly 10 percent. India's poverty continues to be predominantly rural although rural poverty declined faster than urban poverty. Moreover, the decline in national poverty seems to have been driven mostly by the decline in rural poverty. The real issue in establishing a development strategy is whether growth and distribution are independent of each other or, strongly inter-related. Is it the case for instance that faster growth tends to reduce inequality or on the contrary, to increase it? Could too much inequality in a given country act to slow down or, to accelerate growth? All these questions have concerned economists in the last decades and probably will keep doing so for the years to come. Therefore, while preparing a development strategy for our nation, the main issue before the economists is whether to focus on increasing growth or by reducing poverty or by removing inequality or removing unemployment.

The relationship between democracy and development remains an important issue in understanding the progress of developing countries, particularly in the context of India. This article examines India as a democratic developmental state, emphasizing the need to balance sustained economic development with democratic participation and responsible citizenship. It argues that visionary leadership alone is insufficient for achieving national development without informed, disciplined, and actively engaged citizens. The discussion highlights the importance of civic education and democratic participation skills, including communication, critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, tolerance, cooperation, and responsible decision making. Active participation in community organizations, local institutions, voting, petitioning, and constructive public discussion can strengthen civil society and improve the quality of democracy. The article also draws attention to the role of education in preparing citizens for the complex social, political, and civic challenges of the twenty first century. India’s developmental progress therefore requires a complementary relationship between effective leadership and responsible citizen participation. Strengthening civic skills and encouraging citizens to contribute actively to public life can enhance democratic resilience while supporting sustainable economic and social development.