Economic Development

1. Concepts and Theories:

   • Definitions and measures of economic development.
   • Theories of economic development (e.g., Harrod-Domar model, Rostow’s stages of growth).

2. Indicators of Development:

   • Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Product (GNP).
   • Human Development Index (HDI) and its components.
   • Poverty and inequality measures.

3. Sustainable Development:

   • Concepts of sustainable development.
   • Environmental sustainability and its importance in economic planning.

Economic Policies

1. Planning and Policy Framework:

   • Five-Year Plans and their evolution.
   • Key policies related to industrialization, agriculture, and infrastructure.

2. Economic Reforms:

   • Liberalization, privatization, and globalization (LPG) reforms.
   • Fiscal and monetary policies.

3. Sector-Specific Policies:

   • Policies for agriculture, industry, services, and informal sectors.

4. Regional and International Policies:

   • Regional planning and development policies.
   • Trade policies and international economic relations.

Challenges

1. Economic Inequality and Poverty:

   • Causes and consequences of economic inequality.
   • Poverty alleviation programs and their effectiveness.

2. Employment and Labor Issues:

   • Employment generation strategies.
   • Labor market dynamics and issues.

3. Infrastructure Development:

   • Challenges in infrastructure development.
   • Public-private partnerships and financing.

4. Environmental and Social Challenges:

   • Balancing economic growth with environmental conservation.
   • Social implications of economic policies.

5. Global Economic Challenges:

   • Impact of global economic trends and crises on national economies.
   • India’s role in the global economy.