Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan has argued that India can be regarded as a developed economy only if development is inclusive and reaches every section of society. He made the remarks at the Kautilya Economic Conclave 2026 in New Delhi.
Inclusion at the centre of development
Radhakrishnan said economic growth should be judged not only by headline indicators but also by whether benefits reach people across social and economic groups. He referred to financial inclusion measures and direct benefit delivery as examples of policy mechanisms aimed at broadening access.
Consensus in policymaking
The Vice-President also emphasised discussion and consensus in major economic decisions, particularly at a time of global uncertainty. Durable reforms often require institutional continuity and public acceptance beyond immediate political cycles.
Domestic and global realities
He called for policy choices grounded in an understanding of both India’s domestic requirements and changes in the international economy. That includes managing growth, resilience and distribution together.
Measuring the goal
The developed-economy ambition will ultimately be evaluated through income, productivity, employment, infrastructure, human development and distributional outcomes rather than a single metric.
Source: The Indian Express, Kautilya Economic Conclave coverage.
