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Latest Economics NCERT Notes, Solutions and Extra Q & A (Class 9th to 12th)
9th 10th 11th 12th

Class 11th Chapters
Indian Economic Development
1. The Indian Economy On The Eve Of Independence 2. Indian Economy 1950-1990 3. Liberalisation, Privatisation And Globalisation: An Appraisal
4. Human Capital Formation In India 5. Rural Development 6. Employment: Growth, Informalisation And Other Issues
7. Environment And Sustainable Development 8. Comparative Development Experiences Of India And Its Neighbours
Statistics For Economics
1. Introduction 2. Collection Of Data 3. Organisation Of Data
4. Presentation Of Data 5. Measures Of Central Tendency 6. Correlation
7. Index Numbers 8. Use Of Statistical Tools



Chapter 3 Liberalisation, Privatisation And Globalisation: An Appraisal



This chapter provides a critical analysis of the landmark economic shift India undertook in 1991. It begins by setting the context of the pre-1991 era, characterized by a mixed economy model that led to a complex system of controls, permits, and regulations often referred to as the 'Licence Raj'. This system, coupled with inefficient management, led to a severe economic crisis in 1991, marked by a critical shortage of foreign exchange reserves, a high fiscal deficit, and rising inflation. The crisis forced India to approach the IMF and World Bank, which mandated a radical change in economic direction as a condition for providing loans.

The core of the chapter explains the New Economic Policy (NEP) of 1991, which was built on the three pillars of Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation (LPG). Liberalisation involved dismantling the 'Licence Raj' by deregulating the industrial sector, reforming the financial sector to change the RBI's role from regulator to facilitator, and reforming trade and tax policies. Privatisation focused on reducing the role of the public sector by selling its equity to the private sector, a process known as disinvestment. Globalisation aimed at integrating the Indian economy with the world economy by reducing tariffs, opening up to foreign investment, and encouraging practices like outsourcing.

Finally, the chapter offers an appraisal of the reforms. On the positive side, the reforms led to a high GDP growth rate, a significant increase in foreign direct investment (FDI), and a surge in foreign exchange reserves. However, the chapter also highlights major criticisms, such as the phenomenon of "jobless growth", where economic growth did not generate sufficient employment opportunities. It points out the neglect of the agricultural sector, which saw a deceleration in growth, and the adverse impact of industrial liberalisation on domestic manufacturers facing competition from cheaper imports. The reforms, while successful in averting the crisis, are presented as having had a mixed impact, leading to increased inequality and benefiting the service sector far more than the crucial agriculture and industry sectors.

Background of the 1991 Economic Crisis in India

The Pre-1991 Economic Framework

Since its independence in 1947, India chose to adopt a mixed economy model. This model was a deliberate attempt to harness the efficiency and dynamism of the capitalist system while retaining the equity and social welfare goals of the socialist system.

In the initial decades, this policy led to the establishment of numerous rules and laws, primarily enforced through a system of industrial licensing, often termed the 'Licence Raj'. Some economic scholars contend that this extensive regulatory framework, while intended to control and regulate the economy for planned development, ultimately stifled entrepreneurship, inhibited efficiency, and significantly hampered the process of growth and development.

Conversely, other experts highlight that this strategy allowed India, which began its developmental journey from a point of near stagnation, to achieve crucial developmental milestones. These included achieving growth in domestic savings, establishing a diversified industrial sector capable of producing a wide variety of goods, and experiencing a sustained expansion in agricultural output, which was instrumental in guaranteeing food security for the massive population.


The Onset of the 1991 Crisis

By 1991, decades of internal economic management issues and external pressures culminated in a severe financial crisis. The crisis was marked by a critical situation concerning the country's external financial obligations:

This unprecedented crisis fundamentally necessitated a complete overhaul of the existing economic policies, leading to a major change in India’s developmental strategy.


Origins of the Financial Crisis

The immediate crisis of 1991 was the culmination of chronic and inefficient management of the Indian economy, particularly throughout the 1980s.

Fiscal Imbalance and Unsustainable Deficits

The government's consistent failure to manage its finances efficiently was a central cause. A government generates funds from sources like taxation and the revenues of Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs). When its total expenditure is greater than its total revenue, it results in a fiscal deficit, which must be financed through borrowing.

The Balance of Payments (BOP) Crisis

The external trade situation further aggravated the crisis:

The combined effect of high foreign debt, a massive current account deficit, and low reserves meant that India's creditworthiness plummeted, leading to a situation where no country or international funder was willing to lend to India to keep the economy afloat.



The New Economic Policy (NEP) of 1991

Approaching International Institutions

In a desperate attempt to avert a sovereign default, the Indian government was compelled to seek financial assistance from international organisations. It approached the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), commonly known as the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

India successfully secured a loan of approximately $7 billion to manage the financial crisis and stabilise the economy. However, receiving the loan was strictly conditional upon India agreeing to a package of economic reforms suggested by these international agencies, which essentially demanded a shift away from the existing controlled economic model.

The key conditionalities were:

India conceded to these conditionalities and, in response, announced the New Economic Policy (NEP) in July 1991. The overarching goal of the NEP was to foster a more competitive environment in the economy by systematically removing barriers to the entry and growth of business firms.


Components of the New Economic Policy

The economic reforms under the NEP were comprehensive and can be classified into two distinct, yet complementary, groups:

  1. Stabilisation Measures (Short-Term)

    These were quick, short-term measures implemented immediately to correct the acute macroeconomic weaknesses of the economy that had led to the crisis. The focus was on:

    • Controlling Inflation: Taking urgent steps to bring the sharp and accelerating rise in the general price level of essential goods under control.
    • Correcting Balance of Payments (BOP) Deficit: Measures aimed at restoring confidence in the external sector, most importantly by increasing foreign currency inflows to maintain sufficient foreign exchange reserves.
  2. Structural Reform Measures (Long-Term)

    These were comprehensive, long-term policies aimed at fundamentally restructuring the economy. The primary goals were:

    • Improving Efficiency: Enhancing the productivity and operational effectiveness of the entire economic system.
    • Increasing International Competitiveness: Making Indian goods and services competitive in the global market.
    • Removing Rigidities: Eliminating the bureaucratic hurdles and policy bottlenecks that had developed over decades in various segments of the Indian economy.

The Three Pillars of NEP: LPG

The structural reforms initiated by the government under the New Economic Policy are commonly grouped under the acronym LPG, representing the three core policy pillars:



Liberalisation

Liberalisation, as a component of the New Economic Policy (NEP) of 1991, primarily signifies the process of freeing the Indian economy from the excessive controls, rules, and restrictions (often referred to as the 'Licence Raj') that were seen as major hindrances to economic growth and development. The objective was to open up various sectors to greater private participation and competition. While minor liberalisation efforts began in the 1980s, the 1991 reforms were systemic and far more comprehensive, covering key areas like industry, finance, tax, and foreign trade.


Deregulation of the Industrial Sector

Prior to 1991, India's industrial sector operated under stringent regulations. The major pillars of this regulatory mechanism were:

The 1991 reforms drastically dismantled these restrictions:


Financial Sector Reforms

The financial sector encompasses a range of institutions including commercial and investment banks, stock exchange operations, and the foreign exchange market. The sector in India is traditionally regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which controls aspects like interest rates, the amount of reserves banks must hold, and the nature of lending.

The core objective of the financial sector reforms was to reduce the authoritative role of the RBI from a direct regulator to a facilitator of financial markets. This change implies greater operational freedom for financial institutions to make business decisions without mandatory consultation with the RBI.

Key reforms implemented were:

However, the RBI continues to retain control over certain managerial aspects to protect the interests of account holders and ensure the nation's financial stability.


Tax Reforms (Fiscal Policy)

Tax reforms are a vital part of the government’s fiscal policy, which deals with its taxation and public expenditure policies. Taxes are broadly classified into direct taxes (on income and profit) and indirect taxes (on commodities).

Direct Tax Reforms

Indirect Tax Reforms

Overall, tax procedures have been simplified, and rates substantially lowered to encourage compliance.


Foreign Exchange Reforms

The external sector was the most immediate source of the 1991 crisis. Reforms here were swift and pivotal:


Trade and Investment Policy Reforms

These reforms were crucial for integrating India into the global economy and were designed to boost the international competitiveness of domestic industries and to attract foreign investment and technology.

Pre-1991 trade policy was highly protectionist, relying on:

These protectionist measures were criticised for breeding inefficiency and leading to slow growth in the manufacturing sector. The reform agenda focused on three key areas:



Privatisation

Meaning and Methods of Privatisation

Privatisation is one of the three core elements of the New Economic Policy (NEP) and is essentially defined as the transfer of ownership or management of a government-owned enterprise to the private sector. It marks a significant retreat of the government from its earlier dominant role in industrial and commercial sectors.

The conversion of government companies (Public Sector Enterprises or PSEs) into private companies is primarily achieved through two key ways:

  1. Withdrawal from Ownership and Management: This involves the government giving up its control and managerial rights over a public sector company, which is then passed on to a private entity or the market.
  2. Outright Sale: This is the complete and direct sale of a government-owned company to a private sector buyer.

A specific and crucial method employed in India for privatisation is disinvestment. Disinvestment is the process where the government sells a part of its equity (shares) in a Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) to the public, or to financial institutions, or to a private buyer. Selling a portion of equity is often termed a minority sale, while selling the majority stake is often an outright sale or strategic sale, which transfers management control.


Objectives of Privatisation

The government's stated purposes for undertaking the policy of privatisation and disinvestment were multi-faceted and aimed at boosting the economy's performance:


Improving PSU Efficiency: The 'Ratna' Status

The government recognised that not all PSUs should be privatised, particularly the profitable and strategically important ones. Thus, alongside the privatisation process, efforts were also made to improve the efficiency and autonomy of high-performing PSUs through the granting of special status, often referred to as the 'Ratna' status.

Box 3.1. Navratnas and Public Enterprise Policies

Answer:

To infuse professionalism, improve efficiency, and enable certain Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) to compete more effectively in the liberalised global environment, the government grants them special statuses: Maharatnas, Navratnas, and Miniratnas.

The grant of this status confers significant managerial, operational, and financial autonomy to these PSEs, allowing them to take quick and independent decisions on various matters—such as investment, joint ventures, and resource raising—to run the company more efficiently and increase profits.

Examples of PSEs with 'Ratna' Status:

The Central Public Sector Enterprises are categorised as follows:

  • Maharatnas: This highest status is granted to the largest and most successful PSEs. Examples include: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
  • Navratnas: The second-highest category, granted to major profitable PSEs. Examples include: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL).
  • Miniratnas: This status is granted to other profit-making PSEs. Examples include: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Airport Authority of India (AAI), and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC).

By giving them this autonomy, the government aims for better performance and expansion in the global market while keeping them under public ownership.



Globalisation and its Outcomes

Understanding Globalisation

Globalisation is the ultimate outcome of the set of economic reforms—liberalisation and privatisation—that aim to transform the world towards greater interdependence and integration. In economic terms, it is precisely defined as the integration of the economy of the country with the world economy.

It is a complex and comprehensive phenomenon that involves the creation of economic, social, and geographical networks that transcend national borders. The policy attempts to establish links in such a way that economic events occurring in India are increasingly influenced by, and in turn influence, events happening thousands of miles away. It seeks to break down barriers to make the world function as a single, whole unit—the concept of a "borderless world."


Outsourcing: A Key Economic Outcome

Outsourcing is one of the most prominent economic manifestations of the globalisation process in India and globally. It involves a company hiring regular services from external sources, which were either previously performed internally or within the home country. These external sources are often located in other countries, leading to a massive global transfer of jobs and services.

Factors Driving Outsourcing to India

The practice has intensified significantly in the recent past, primarily due to the revolutionary growth of Information Technology (IT) and fast modes of telecommunication, including the Internet. The digital transmission of text, voice, and visual data across continents in real time makes outsourcing of services highly feasible.

India has emerged as the premier destination for global outsourcing for multinational corporations (MNCs) and small companies alike, due to its comparative advantages:

Commonly Outsourced Services

A wide variety of services are outsourced to India, falling mainly under the umbrella of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO):

A modern call center with many employees working on computers with headsets, representing the BPO industry in a big city.

Global Footprint of Indian Companies

Globalisation has not only facilitated the entry of foreign companies into India but has also enabled numerous Indian companies to expand their operations beyond national boundaries, creating a significant Global Footprint.

Global Footprint!

Owing to the favourable conditions created by globalisation and the accompanying reforms, many Indian companies, both public and private, have become multinational corporations (MNCs) in their own right, operating and employing people in numerous countries. This expansion is a testament to the increased international competitiveness of Indian firms.

Examples of Indian Companies with a Global Presence:

  • ONGC Videsh: A subsidiary of the Public Sector Enterprise (PSE), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, which is actively engaged in oil and gas exploration and production, currently manages projects in 16 countries.
  • Tata Steel: A private sector company and one of the world's top ten global steel companies. It maintains operations in 26 countries, sells its products in 50 countries, and employs nearly 50,000 personnel in other countries.
  • HCL Technologies: One of India's top five IT companies. It has offices in 31 countries and employs approximately 15,000 persons abroad.
  • Dr. Reddy's Laboratories: This pharmaceutical company, which started as a small supplier to larger Indian companies, now operates manufacturing plants and research centres across the world.

This global expansion is a direct indicator of India’s growing economic integration with the world economy.


World Trade Organisation (WTO)

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the institutional anchor of globalisation, established in 1995 as the successor organisation to the General Agreement on Trade and Tariff (GATT), which was established by 23 countries in 1948.

Objectives and Mandate of WTO

The WTO is the primary global trade organisation responsible for overseeing and liberalising international trade. Its key objectives and functions include:

India's Stance and the Debate on WTO

India is a founding member and has played an active role in the WTO, advocating for the interests of the developing world and striving for fair global rules and safeguards. India has fulfilled its commitments by removing quantitative restrictions on imports and reducing tariff rates.

However, the WTO remains a subject of intense debate, particularly among developing nations:



Indian Economy During Reforms: An Assessment

The New Economic Policy, with its components of Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation (LPG), was introduced in 1991. The period of over three decades since then has seen a varied performance of the Indian economy, which can be summarised as a mixed outcome of significant positive developments and persistent, critical challenges.


Positive Impacts of the Reforms

Rapid and Sustained Growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The post-1991 era is marked by a period of rapid and sustained growth in the nation's total output. The GDP growth rate experienced a notable acceleration, increasing from an average of 5.6 per cent during the 1980–91 period to a much higher average of 8.2 per cent during 2007–12.

The major driver of this overall growth has been the Service Sector (e.g., IT, telecommunication, finance, trade). The data clearly indicates that while the growth of agriculture has declined, and industry growth has fluctuated, the service sector has consistently grown at the highest rate, driving the entire GDP growth.

Growth of GDP and Major Sectors (in %)

Sector 1980-91 1992-2001 2002-07 2007-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Agriculture 3.6 3.3 2.3 3.2 1.5 4.2 – 0.2*
Industry 7.1 6.5 9.4 7.4 3.6 5.0 7.0*
Services 6.7 8.2 7.8 10.0 8.1 7.8 9.8*
Total (GDP) 5.6 6.4 7.8 8.2 5.6 6.6 7.4

Note: *Data pertaining to Gross Value Added (GVA). The GVA is estimated from GDP by adding subsidies on production and subtracting indirect taxes.

Phenomenal Increase in Foreign Investment and Reserves

The opening up of the economy, especially the liberalisation of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the permission for Foreign Institutional Investment (FII) in financial markets, led to a massive injection of foreign capital. Foreign investment skyrocketed from a mere US $100 million in 1990-91 to a substantial US $30 billion in 2017-18.

This capital inflow, combined with increased exports, led to a phenomenal growth in India's Foreign Exchange Reserves, which increased from about US $6 billion in 1990-91 (barely enough for two weeks' imports) to about US $413 billion in 2018-19, establishing India as one of the largest foreign exchange reserve holders in the world.

Emergence as a Successful Exporter and Price Control

Since the reforms, India has transitioned into a globally successful exporter of sophisticated goods and services, including auto parts, pharmaceutical goods, engineering products, and textiles. The IT software sector is a particularly major contributor to India’s exports.

A graphic showing software code and a 'Made in India' label, representing the IT industry's contribution to exports.

Furthermore, the stabilisation measures and fiscal discipline introduced post-1991 have, over the long term, assisted in keeping rising prices (inflation) under better control.


Criticisms and Negative Impacts of Reforms

The reform process has been widely criticised for being imbalanced and for failing to translate aggregate economic growth into comprehensive developmental benefits for all sectors and all people.

Uneven Growth and Employment

A central criticism is that the reform-led growth has been "jobless growth." Despite the high GDP growth rate, the reforms are alleged to have not generated sufficient employment opportunities to absorb the country's huge and growing workforce, leading to unemployment and underemployment issues.

Adverse Impact on Agriculture Sector

The agricultural sector, which provides livelihoods to millions, appears to have been adversely affected by the reform process, with its growth rate declining or decelerating over the period. Key reasons include:

Slowdown in Industrial Sector Growth

The industrial sector's growth has also performed poorly in the reform period due to several factors:

Issues with Disinvestment Policy

The government's practice of disinvestment (selling of PSE equity) has faced two main criticisms:

Limitations on Fiscal Policies and Welfare Expenditure

The reforms have inadvertently placed limits on the growth of public expenditure, particularly in essential social sectors (education, health). This fiscal constraint is a result of:

These constraints have a negative impact on the government's ability to finance critical developmental and welfare programs.


Conclusion: An Evaluation of the LPG Policies

In conclusion, the globalisation process, supported by liberalisation and privatisation, presents a complex picture.



NCERT Questions Solution



Question 1. Why were reforms introduced in India?

Answer:

Question 2. Why is it necessary to became a member of WTO?

Answer:

Question 3. Why did RBI have to change its role from controller to facilitator of financial sector in India?

Answer:

Question 4. How is RBI controlling the commercial banks?

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Question 5. What do you understand by devaluation of rupee?

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Question 6. Distinguish between the following

(i) Strategic and Minority sale

(ii) Bilateral and Multi-lateral trade

(iii) Tariff and Non-tariff barriers.

Answer:

Question 7. Why are tariffs imposed?

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Question 8. What is the meaning of quantitative restrictions?

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Question 9. Those public sector undertakings which are making profits should be privatised. Do you agree with this view? Why?

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Question 10. Do you think outsourcing is good for India? Why are developed countries opposing it?

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Question 11. India has certain advantages which makes it a favourite outsourcing destination. What are these advantages?

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Question 12. Do you think the navaratna policy of the government helps in improving the performance of public sector undertakings in India? How?

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Question 13. What are the major factors responsible for the high growth of the service sector?

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Question 14. Agriculture sector appears to be adversely affected by the reform process. Why?

Answer:

Question 15. Why has the industrial sector performed poorly in the reform period?

Answer:

Question 16. Discuss economic reforms in India in the light of social justice and welfare.

Answer:



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