You may have wondered if the Indian state has done little for the well-being of its people. You may have even thought that the Indian state is a part of the problem in improving well-being of the masses. In this course, you will appreciate how the post-independence Indian state was imagined, and constructed institutionally, as a key actor for transforming our society and economy in a democratic way. The course takes you through some exemplary developmental interventions by the state, and their successes and failures. You will also recognize the state’s changing roles vis-à-vis other actors, such as civic organizations, in India’s developmental journey.