India’s Social Challenges

Abstract

State legitimacy is to a large extent derived from the ability of a government to overcome social challenges and to contribute to the country’s social welfare and stability. Discussing and evaluating the record of the Indian Republic in meeting challenges and demands within the social sector, this chapter identifies six major challenges that face contemporary India. The six core challenges highlighted are: the so-called ‘demographic dividend’, healthcare, education, the environment and water scarcity, poverty-alleviation and, the attitude towards women. It will furthermore, be illustrated how policies, even when successful, have unintended consequences which can engender new challenges. For example, the Green Revolution enabled India to become self-sufficient in food and at the same time, stimulated a dramatic increase in population. Various policy responses are considered including structural adjustments such as further de-centralisation and the strengthening of the panchayat as the way forward for India.