Regional Development and Public Policy Challenges in India

Book Details

• Publisher: Springer

• Author: Rakhee Bhattacharya (Editor)

• Language: English

• Edition: 2022

• ISBN: 9788132239888

• Pages: 360

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 4.3 x 3.3 x 0.8 inches

About the Book

This edited volume by Rakhee Bhattacharya presents a critical and timely exploration of regional imbalances in India’s developmental landscape. The book underscores the pressing need for democratizing policy processes to foster inclusive and equitable regional development. As disparities among Indian states continue to widen, this work calls for renewed and innovative policy frameworks that align with constitutional values while addressing political and economic aspirations emerging from identity-based regionalism.

The book introduces a six-pillar framework for reshaping the public policy process: ensuring stakeholder voice, establishing clear objectives rooted in the public good, utilizing unbiased and comprehensive data, aligning with fundamental values, implementing transparent and accountable systems, and promoting public awareness and engagement. These pillars offer a roadmap for addressing entrenched disparities and building a development process that is both participatory and sustainable.

Divided into ten well-researched chapters, the book features contributions from prominent scholars who examine India’s growth from regional perspectives, study intra- and inter-state inequalities, analyze the Red Corridor’s developmental gaps, and evaluate fiscal performances of Indian states. It also includes comparative insights from China, providing a global context to regional imbalance debates.

Rakhee Bhattacharya’s expertise in development studies, particularly in the socio-political and economic issues of Northeast India, brings depth and nuance to this volume. Currently serving as Associate Director at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, she draws on years of academic and field-based experience to guide this important work. Her editorial direction ensures the book is both academically rigorous and policy-relevant.

A vital resource for policymakers, economists, development practitioners, and scholars, this book stimulates a rethinking of how India can address its persistent regional inequalities and move toward a more just and inclusive future.