Introduction Agriculture has always been the backbone of India’s economy, supporting the livelihood of nearly half of the population. Over the decades, India has witnessed several agricultural revolutions such as the Green Revolution (cereals), White Revolution (milk), Blue Revolution (fisheries), Yellow Revolution (oilseeds), and others. Collectively, these diverse sectoral transformations in agriculture and allied activities…
Introduction Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) form an integral part of India’s financial architecture aimed at promoting rural development. Established in 1975 under the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976, RRBs were designed to combine the local feel and accessibility of cooperatives with the professionalism and financial strength of commercial banks. Over the years, however, RRBs faced…
Introduction Infrastructure is the backbone of economic development. It encompasses the physical, organizational, and technological frameworks that support economic activities and improve the quality of life. Roads, railways, ports, airports, power supply, water, telecommunications, and digital networks are all integral components of infrastructure. A well-developed infrastructure network reduces costs, facilitates trade, attracts investment, and improves…
Introduction Economic inequality refers to the unequal distribution of income, wealth, and opportunities among individuals or groups within a society. While some level of inequality is inevitable in a market-driven economy, excessive economic disparity can threaten social cohesion, reduce economic efficiency, and impede sustainable development. In contrast, inclusive growth emphasizes equitable access to economic opportunities,…
Introduction Poverty is one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges in developing countries, especially in nations like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and several African states. Despite decades of development initiatives, poverty continues to persist in rural as well as urban areas due to structural inequalities, unemployment, lack of access to resources, and limited financial inclusion. Traditional…
Introduction Agroecology has emerged as a transformative approach to agriculture that merges ecological science with traditional agricultural knowledge and sustainable farming practices. Rooted in both scientific and indigenous understandings of nature, agroecology seeks to design resilient farming systems that are ecologically sound, socially just, and economically viable. Central to the practice and philosophy of agroecology…
Introduction Climate change has emerged as a significant threat to global food security, ecosystem balance, and rural livelihoods, particularly in countries like India where agriculture remains the mainstay of millions. Erratic rainfall patterns, increasing temperatures, soil degradation, and the loss of biodiversity are intensifying farming challenges. In this context, agroforestry has gained prominence as a…
Introduction Agriculture plays a pivotal role in India’s economy, sustaining nearly 60% of its population. However, challenges like low productivity, fragmented landholdings, climate change impacts, and outdated farming practices continue to threaten the sector’s sustainability. In this context, agricultural innovations—ranging from modern farming techniques to agri-tech solutions—have become crucial for transforming Indian agriculture. The National…
Introduction Indian agriculture, despite being a major livelihood source for more than 50% of the population, has long been trapped in issues of fragmentation, low productivity, price volatility, and weak market linkages. In this context, two key institutional reforms—Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and the electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)—have been introduced to transform the structure…
Introduction Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is a transformative policy initiative launched by the Government of India to enhance the efficiency and transparency of welfare schemes. It aims to directly transfer subsidies and benefits to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts, thereby eliminating intermediaries, reducing leakages, and ensuring the targeted delivery of government assistance. Introduced in 2013, DBT…