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The Indian Eye
COVER STORY AUGUST 21, 2026 4

INDIA AT 80

A RISING

GLOBAL POWER

Eight decades after Independence, India today is a transformed
country even as major challenges remain unfinished

OUR BUREAU

New Delhi
hen India became indepen-
dent in August 1947, the
Wcountry inherited a deeply
impoverished economy, low levels of
literacy and industrialization, a frac-
tured society and the enormous task
of holding together one of the world’s
most diverse populations. Eight de-
cades later, the contrast is striking.
India in 2026 is the world’s most
populous country, one of the fast-
est-growing major economies, a nu-
clear and space power, a digital giant
and an increasingly influential voice in
global affairs. Its athletes compete for
medals on the world’s biggest stages,
its films and music travel far beyond
its borders, and its diaspora has be- India’s democratic story at 80 is consequently both impressive and contested (ANI)
come a bridge between India and the
countries in which millions of Indians
and people of Indian origin live. diciary, a federal structure and a mul- ation for Democratic Reforms study. cent that year. The Economic Survey
But India’s 80-year journey is not tiparty political system. The 2023 constitutional amendment 2025-26 estimated growth of 7.4 per
simply a story of achievement. It is There have been difficult periods providing for one-third reservation cent for FY26 and projected 6.8-7.2
also a story of unfinished promises — — the Emergency of 1975-77, political of seats for women in Parliament per cent growth for FY27.
of poverty that has not disappeared, instability in the late 1980s and 1990s, and state assemblies could eventually India’s economy is now driven
jobs that remain inadequate, inequal- communal tensions, insurgencies and change that equation. India’s demo- not only by agriculture and manu-
ities that persist, institutions that are continuing debates over institutional cratic story at 80 is consequently both facturing but increasingly by services,
constantly tested and a vast popula- independence. But elections have re- impressive and contested. technology, finance and a huge do-
tion still seeking a better quality of life. mained central to the transfer of po- From scarcity to aspiration mestic consumer market. Services ex-
The story of India at 80 is there- litical power. The scale of Indian de- ports reached a record $387.6 billion
fore one of remarkable transforma- mocracy is extraordinary. In the 2024 n 1947, India was overwhelmingly in FY25, while India’s share of global
tion, but also of an unfinished nation- Lok Sabha election, 64.64 crore votes dependent on agriculture, had little merchandise exports nearly doubled
al project. were polled, compared with 41.73 Iindustrial capacity and was strug- from 1 per cent in 2005 to 1.8 per cent
The endurance of democracy crore in 2009. Overall voter turnout gling with food insecurity. The econom- in 2024.
was 66.10 per cent. ic journey since then has been dramat- Digitalization has become anoth-
erhaps India’s greatest achieve- More significantly, women are ic. The early decades were dominated er defining feature. Millions of Indians
ment is political rather than becoming an increasingly powerful by planning, public-sector investment who once stood outside formal bank-
Peconomic or technological: de- electoral force. In 2024, female voter and protectionism. The 1991 eco- ing now participate in the financial
mocracy survived. turnout was 65.78 per cent, slightly nomic reforms changed the trajectory, system. By March 2025, more than 55
At independence, sceptics doubt- higher than the 65.55 per cent turnout opening India to greater competition, crore bank accounts had been opened
ed whether a largely poor, illiterate among men. Women accounted for private investment and global trade. under the Jan Dhan programme.
and socially fragmented country could 48.62 per cent of registered electors. The transformation since then Yet the next economic challenge
sustain democratic government. Yet Yet political representation re- has been enormous. is more complicated. India needs mil-
India built a constitutional democra- mains a weakness. Women constitut- The World Bank estimates In- lions of productive jobs for its young
cy based on universal adult franchise, ed only around 10 per cent of MPs dia’s GDP at around $3.96 trillion in population, higher manufacturing
regular elections, an independent ju- and MLAs analyzed in a 2026 Associ- 2025, with real GDP growth of 7.6 per Continued on next page... >>

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