The World Bank currently classifies India as a lower-middle-income country, placing other countries at the bottom of four income groups—low, low-middle, upper-middle and high-income. While the multilateral institution outlawed the ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ nomenclature a few years ago, a developed nation would still correspond to a high-income country.
India’s per capita average gross income, according to the latest World Bank data, was $2,170 in 2021, ahead of Nigeria at $2,100 and Pakistan at $1,500, but behind Bangladesh at $2,620 and Bhutan at $2,840.
Modi said the people of India, what he called an aspirational society, want positive changes and want them to happen at a faster pace. “Our aspirational society has waited for a long time. But now they are not ready to force their future generations to stay in wait, and hence the first dawn of this ‘Amrit Kaal’ has brought a great golden opportunity for us to fulfill the aspirations of the Red Fort.
Stressing the need for innovation and research, Modi added ‘Jai Anusandhan’ to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s slogans – ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ and Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ‘Jai Vigyan’.
He outlined five commitments for India for the next 25 years, naming them ‘Amrit Kaal Ka Panch Prana’. The commitments include the goal of a developed India, removing traces of colonial mindset, taking pride in the country’s roots and unity and sense of duty among citizens.
“In this Amrit Kaal (next 25 years), we have to come together and work towards another bigger goal of a developed India.”
The call to work towards a developed India comes at a time when the economy is facing several challenges amid the pandemic and high levels of inflation. Nevertheless, the economy grew by 4.1% in the March quarter and 8.7% in the year ended March 31.
Reiterating the call of ‘Self-reliant India’, he said that it is the responsibility of every citizen and every government to make the country self-reliant.
The government has announced a slew of measures, including production linked incentive (PLI) schemes to boost domestic manufacturing and keep India at the center of the global supply chain, as companies around the world seek to cut dependence on China, which Known as the factory of the world.
Calling upon the citizens to support the fight against corruption, he said that nepotism in politics and other institutions is an evil. It is our effort that whoever has looted our country will have to return the money and we are trying for that.
He attributed the recent success of Indian athletes at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham to transparency in selection. “We saw India do well in the recently concluded sporting events. It’s not that we didn’t have talent earlier, but transparent selection has brought medals to Indians.”
He called for cooperative federalism as well as competitive federalism to accelerate the pace of development in the country.
“The need of the hour is cooperative, competitive federalism. Create a spirit of healthy competition among the states for progress in various fields.
Emphasizing on research and development in the country, he said that the effort of the government is towards supporting the youth in research. Keeping in mind the need for research, the government is expanding the mission to space and deep sea, he said.
On the progress of the Digital India campaign and the local production of semiconductors, the Prime Minister said that India will soon have 5G telecom services. Recently, the government auctioned 5G spectrum and received bids of more than 1.5 trillion.
He further said that digitization will transform the education ecosystem, revolutionize health infrastructure and improve the lifestyle of citizens.
On Digital India and growing startups, he said that in the startup ecosystem people come from Tier-II and Tier-III cities or villages and come from poor families. “These are our youth coming to the world today with new discoveries,” he said.
On the National Education Policy, he said: “I look with hope that the way in which the new National Education Policy has been prepared with a lot of brainstorming, with the exchange of views of different people and the roots of the country’s education policy. The skill we have emphasized is a force that will give us the strength to break free from slavery.”
On global warming, Modi said that India can show the world the way to solve the problem of global warming.
Describing diversity as India’s strength, the Prime Minister said: “Being the mother of democracy, India has the inherent power to scale new heights.”
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