Government 100-day Plan: Shaping History in Its Third Term

Government 100-day Plan

With the start of the 18th Lok Sabha session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his coalition of political parties are in for a crucial year. With a focus on state-specific concerns, the upcoming elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and two Union Territories—Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir—will garner attention and affect 22.7 percent of our GDP. There is a unique chance for policy development and cooperative governance during this time of coalition government, which could pave the way for significant socioeconomic advancement.

Given this context, in order to leave a lasting legacy, the incoming government should give top priority to five important areas: inclusivity, empowerment, economic stability, young unemployment, and job creation. Even though these problems are complicated, long-term development and progress may result from implementing the 100-day plan early on and making smart, targeted reforms as part of the coalition dynamics.

ENSURRING EVERYONE’S JOB SAFETY AND EMPLOYMENT

India has had difficulty producing enough jobs for its expanding youth population, even in spite of the country’s strong economic growth as compared to its international counterparts. Some progress is shown by the most recent NSSO poll, pointing to a possible turnaround. Effective legislative measures are still required, though, in order to guarantee steady employment development. The next administration needs to prioritize social security and job creation in order to address this. This involves offering over 31.42 percent of the workforce a complete social security net that encompasses health, job, and skills benefits, promoting balanced social and economic growth across sectors.

In order to prepare young people for jobs in the twenty-first century, educational reforms are required to incorporate technology. Creating a task group to oversee the comprehensive implementation of digital education programs across ministries and states is one strategy. Furthermore, the democratization of technology will facilitate the creation of future plans founded on accurate, structured data. For example, the Government of Uttar Pradesh’s Family ID program is one of the projects that contributes to the development of a complete social repository, which improves the efficacy of policy implementation and welfare systems.

INDIA AS A GLOBAL MANUFACTURING HUB: ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT

In 2023, the manufacturing industry employed approximately 27.3 million people and contributed 17% of India’s GDP. With a goal of making up 25 percent of the economy by 2025, India is aggressively establishing itself as a hub for global manufacturing.

The government intends to improve its standing in the manufacturing sector, but words alone won’t cut it. The incoming administration will put regulations in place to facilitate business dealings, develop policies that are appealing to foreign businesses, and actively pursue trade agreements with important international partners as technology continues to revolutionize the industry. Free trade agreements and the planned National Logistics Policy will be essential to creating an environment that is business-friendly in India.

Reforms in the railway industry should be pursued by the government, and private investment in infrastructure and new industrial facilities should be encouraged. In the long run, India may emerge as a major exporter of railroad equipment and technology, which would strengthen the country’s economy and improve the effectiveness of public transit.

Powered by the manufacturing of commercial aircraft, India is now a global player.

To improve its standing in the industry, India needs to investigate producing defense-related products and concentrate on indigenizing Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). The creation of regional clusters with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM)-driven supply chain could be a strategic approach to defense manufacturing. The cluster-based manufacturing ecosystem ought to take advantage of regional capacities, established industries, and other geopolitical aspects. To guarantee the achievement of the lofty goals specified, a private sector-driven ecosystem in which DPSUs and other public institutions play a significant yet supporting role in R&D, integration, and other areas, can be essential.

Furthermore, the production of commercial aircraft will influence the direction of future economic growth in order to obtain a competitive advantage and draw in outside resources. This calculated move would boost economic expansion and provide jobs, solidifying India’s standing as a major player in the world. To support these initiatives, the nation should provide incentives for the establishment of centralized MRO hubs, connecting them to specialized FOEM that provide access to progressively more advanced technological information, thereby providing a competitive edge.

India has incorporated economic diplomacy into its development objectives with a deliberate focus on winning investments and creating jobs. This revolutionary change has been fueled by aggressively pursuing new trade agreements and encouraging inflows of foreign capital. To further solidify this strategy, a focus on R&D in manufacturing and MRO technologies will be essential. This approach might potentially lead to greater global influence, improved regional stability, and sustainable development for both India and the rest of the globe. It is based on a deep knowledge of global dynamics. India might demonstrate its strength on the international arena by spearheading initiatives at multiple international forums and organizations like QUAD, I2U2, IMEC, ISA, and possibly a coalition of Global South nations.

A NEW ERA IN URBANIZATION

By 2035, 675 million people are expected to live in India, putting unsustainable strain on the country’s urban utilities in big cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai. This emphasizes how Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities must develop fairly in order to accommodate projected population growth. Nonetheless, there are several difficulties with urban planning today. Although they are regulated as rural entities, about half of India’s urban settlements are categorized as census towns. Updated planning techniques are also required because current definitions of ‘urban’ do not adequately reflect the level of urbanization in India. For sustainable urban development and economic progress, these issues must be resolved and urban planning improved.

The management of India’s rapidly increasing urban population—which is expected to reach 50% in the next few decades—requires parallel urban growth. To accommodate this growth, counter-magnetic cities can be established close to current urban hubs, acting as role models for both urban and economic development. These communities ought to follow contemporary guidelines for urban development, which include having strong transit systems and solid social and economic facilities. In addition, it is imperative to modify RERA via broader stakeholder discussions in order to improve accountability and transparency.

NET-ZERO COMMITMENT AND A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE

With a growing population and rising energy consumption since 2000, India is a major actor in the global energy economy. Consumers’ top worries are the cost and consistency of the energy supply. Over 80 percent of India’s energy needs are currently met by coal, oil, and solid biomass, with coal being the most common source of electricity for industrial use. Even with increased access to LPG, 660 million Indians continue to use conventional cooking fuels. Adoption of piped natural gas (PNG) has to receive more attention in order to shift to a gas-based economy.

As a party to the Paris Climate Agreement and a participant in the talks at the COP, the government needs to dramatically raise the percentage of renewable energy. One of the main tenets of the 100-day plan ought to be a firm transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy sources like solar, hydro, and tidal. India needs to take immediate action in light of its problems, which include recent heatwaves, declining groundwater supplies, increased power generation, and a reliance on coal.

The data from Niti Aayog illustrates concerning patterns in land use, underscoring the necessity of a strong and transparent data network in order to successfully decarbonize India’s future. Real-time information on energy generation, capacity, and land changes—all essential for reaching net-zero emissions targets—would be made available by this network.

The way forward calls for more private investment.

Growing infrastructure spending and capital expenditures over the last ten years have had a big impact on India’s economic expansion. With plans to quadruple spending to Rs 143 lakh crore in the FY2024–2030 period compared to FY2017–2023, the NDA government is strategically leveraging the attractiveness of infrastructure investment as a fiscal stimulus as the 18th Lok Sabha convened on June 24.

Although this strategy has potential, there are certain difficulties. Public finances may be strained if capital expenditures are the only source of funding. The government should investigate creative strategies that promote private investment and public-private partnerships in order to lessen this. Furthermore, by taking up these measures, India would be able to address pressing social and economic issues and establish itself as a forward-thinking, powerful player in the world economy. As India navigates this historic juncture amid a changing geopolitical scene and evolving paradigms of governance, the government must launch ambitious programs.

The writer is one of Primus Partners’ co-founders.

The author expresses her ideas and opinions in this post.

Take advantage of our end-of-season membership savings by getting a Moneycontrol pro subscription for free. Make use of code EOSO2021. For more information, go here.

Others: Break And Continue In C Language