Development depends on the evolution and functioning of the economy and its structures. And development practitioners need to have the skills to analyse and interpret development initiatives and interventions from multiple perspectives, including an economic one. In this course, we take you through the Indian economic development story through a historically informed understanding of post-independent Indian economic development strategy, including the role of the state, non-state actors and economic institutions in the fields of agriculture, industry and employment. 

We take a sectoral approach in looking at dominant trends since liberalisation in 1991, with a focus on urbanisation and the informal sector. We also cover basic economic concepts such as poverty, globalisation, inequality, scarcity, efficiency, markets, and capital. You will learn how to apply these concepts to real life economic issues, interpret key economic data, identify sources and data gaps, and gain an analytical perspective on practical economic issues. Using this training in economics, you will analyse contemporary development issues such as poverty, informality, globalisation and human development. 

This course includes lectures and student activities, and you will use readings, op-ed pieces, economic data, economic surveys on GDP, national income, and so on.