India’s Development Journey: A Comparative Analysis of Literacy, Education, Nutrition, and Health (1970–2020)
Introduction India has made significant strides in literacy, education, nutrition, and healthcare since independence. However, when compared with regions like East Asia (China, South Korea, Thailand), Southeast Asia (Indonesia), and Central Asia , as well as Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) , India’s progress has been uneven. While some Indian states rival global leaders, others lag behind even the poorest African nations. This blog compares India’s performance across four key metrics —literacy, primary school enrolment, infant mortality, and child nutrition—over 1970, 1990, 2005, and 2020 . It identifies why India underperformed relative to peers and suggests remedial measures . Finally, it highlights the top 5 and bottom 5 Indian states (with populations over 25 million) to showcase regional disparities. 1. Comparative Performance: India vs. the World A. Literacy Rate (%) Region 1970 1990 2005 2020 India ~34 ~52 ~65 ~77 Sub-Saharan ...