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Between 2008-11, it grew at more than 9 per cent. In consonance with global trends India’s growth also has tapered off these past two years. Nevertheless, overall the trends have never been like this before and there is optimism about the long term, despite recent troubles. It is a country where many state GDPs are bigger than that of many countries.The size of Maharashtra’s economy would place it just about alongside as Singapore and bigger than Hong Kong or Nigeria. This overall performance, however, masks a diversity of performances. 

While the government tries to downplay the numbers by having a somewhat self-serving index (now 22 per cent), other measures such as the UNDP’s .25 a day suggest that almost 37.5 per cent  of Indians live in dire poverty. At a day as much as 70 per cent   of India is below an internationally determined basic standard of living index.Others indices are just as damning. India’s abysmal track record at ensuring basic levels of nutrition is the greatest contributor to its poverty as measured by the new international Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI). About 645 million people, or 55 per cent, of India’s population is poor as measured by this composite indicator made up of 10 markers of education, health and standard of living achievement levels.

A person is defined as poor if he or she is deprived on at least three of the 10 indicators. By this definition, 55 per cent of India was poor, close to double India’s much-criticised China EPTFE waterproof and breathable membrane official poverty figure. Almost 20 per cent of Indians are deprived on six of the 10 indicators.But even more a matter of concern is the growth regional disparities. Eastern India has been languishing and has the densest concentration of poverty, while the northern and southern states have showed very good performances on this front. India’s west has its main industrial centers and naturally overall figures tend to be good here. But if the big cities are removed, here also we get a bit of a dismal picture. 

But does India still have an extractive political system? Many economists will argue that the data suggests just this. When we see the evolving politics through this prism, we have an answer for the growth of family or clan-dominated political parties on one side, and the notable expansion of the upper classes and the growing power of family-owned businesses.Certain cultures and groups seem to have a greater propensity towards material wealth. The Sikhs, Gujaratis and Marwaris in India, for instance, are more entrepreneurial and contribute far more to India’s overall economic wealth creation than others. Kerala has India’s highest HDI. It has near universal literacy.