SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

DOES INDIA HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A SUPERPOWER? TO

TAKE THE BIG LEAP FROM A DEVELOPING NATION?
(LIBERAL ARTS II)

SYMBIOSIS LAW SCHOOL, HYDERABAD

1st Assessment Assignment

Under the guidance of -

Mr. Kshitij
In the month of - September, 2017

Submitted by -
NEHA PRIYADARSHINI
PRN 15010324325
BBA. llb. Of D
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my sincere gratitude and indebtedness to Mr. Kshitij for his enlightening lectures on
Constitution. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to our teaching staff for guiding me the path
towards gaining knowledge.

I would like to thank the Library Staff of Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad as well for their co-operation.

I would also like to thank my batch mates and seniors who inspired, helped and guided me in making this
assignment.

Neha Priyadarshini
17.09.17

2
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sr.no Topics Page No.

1. Acknowledgement 02
2. Introduction 04

3. Hurdles in the Path - 05-08

Increasing unemployment
Heightening population
Literacy Rate
Health Concerns
Poverty Concerns
Extensive Corruption
Terrorism and Insurgency
Competitor China
Gender Bias
Increase of Regionalism
Social Security
Monsoon and Agriculture

4. Conclusion 09
5. Bibliography 10

3
 INTRODUCTION

This is possible but not at all easy. A potential superpower is a state or a political and economic entity that is
speculated to be, or to be in the process of becoming, a superpower at some point in the 21st century. Presently,
it is widely considered that only the United States currently fulfils the criteria to be considered a superpower.
States most commonly mentioned as being potential superpowers are Brazil, China, the European Union (a
supranational entity), India and Russia, based on a variety of factors.

Several media publications and academics have discussed the Republic of becoming a superpower. Is India
really shining? Is it really on the path of becoming a superpower? Optimistic Indians would assert an
affirmation but it is time one had a reality check India is surely marching ahead, but are all the Indians
marching ahead or is it just a small fraction of the population doing so? India can surely boast of a growth rate
of around 8-9 per cent, but one needs to ask if this growth is trickling down to the lower strata of the populace.

Sixty three years ago in 1947 when India got independence, the question then asked was will India survive?
today, Indias economic profile has changed. At over a trillion dollars, it is a force to reckon with not just in
Asia but in the entire world. With its new currency symbol to be internationalized soon, India now flexes its
financial muscle.

Soon after independence our nation was in turmoil. Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, tragic partition
rendering millions of people homeless tribal invasion in J&K coupled with problem of consolidation of five
hundred princely states, to build a new nation was a mammoth task. After going through different phases of
lows and highs, the doubtful query will India survive has been replaced by more hopeful query, will India
become a superpower?

Today India is recognized as an emerging powerhouse by the world community. Form a nation known to the
world as a county of snake charmers to a front line developing nation, image of our country has undergone a
dramatic change. The pace leading to full transformation may be slow but consistency will lead to the desired
goal. The key to the extraordinary resilience lies in Indias stable and successful democratic institution. India,
a home of several religions and several hundred spoken languages is a garland of multitude of diverse
communities woven together in a common thread of democracy. Unlike other European nations whose unity
is based on a common languages and largely a common faith. India presents a picture of unity in diversity.
With multiple of democracy in India was always in doubt. Despite abstruse dislike and mistrust between the
two major communities of the nation, India has emerged as multicultural democracy.

4
 HURDLES IN THE PATH

Withhold economic reforms Indias GDP is on a sustained growth path. India has become third largest
economy in Asia to keep its high rate of growth. Despite the growth story, India has yet to cross over many
plateaus before it becomes a superpower in league with big nations. I shall discuss here some of the core issues
that if not attended to with strong political will and time bound action may rock the boat of countrys economic
rejuvenation.

1. Increasing Unemployment

India is facing massive problem of unemployment. The incidence of unemployment is much higher in urban
areas than in rural areas. The incidence of unemployment amongst the educated is higher than the overall
unemployment amongst the educated is higher than the overall unemployment. Economic reforms may have
given a boost to industrial productivity, but the boom has not crated enough jobs. Indias performance on this
front has fallen short of target in the past. Indias labour force is growing at a rate of 2.5 per cent, but
employment is growing only at 2.3 per cent. The country is faced with the challenge of not only absorbing
new entrants in the job market (estimated at seven million people every year), but also clearing the backlog.
Unemployed youth is likely to translate his frustration into criminal and illegal activates.

2. Heightening Population

India is second most populous country in the world, with over 1,210,193,422 people more than a sixth of
worlds population. Already containing 17.31 per cent of the world population, India is projected to be
populous country by 2025 surpassing China. India occupies 2.4 per cent of the worlds land and supports 17.5
per cent of worlds population. It seems the Government has stopped all efforts to control the population
explosion. Fearing public unrest and possible loss of vote bank after Sanjay Gandhi the successive
Governments abandoned family planning programmes if at all some programme is being executed it is only
as tokenism without political will.

3. Literacy Issue

Literacy in India grew to 74.04 per cent in 2011 from 12 per cent at end of British Rule in 1947. Although it
is more than fivefold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84 per cent. India
currently has the largest illiterate population of any nation on earth. Indias literacy rate is increasing only
sluggishly. Besides low literacy rate there is a wide gender disparity in the literacy rate.

5
 4. Health Concerns

Great improvement has taken place in public health since independence, but the general health picture remains
far from satisfactory. The government is paying increasing attention to integrated health, maternity and child
care in rural areas, but the efforts on health front needs to be intensified with spread of health awareness
through education through education and mass movement.

5. Poverty Concerns

Poverty as measured by the new international Multi- dimensional poverty Index(MPI), about 645 million
people or 55 per cent of our countrys population is poor as measured by composite indicator made up of ten
markers of education, health and standard living achievement levels. MPI attempts to capture more than just
income poverty at household level.

It is comprised of ten indicators: years of schooling and child education; child mortality and nutrition(health);
and electricity, flooring, drinking water, sanitation, cooking fuel and other assets. This may be a gimmick of
the Western Countries to project themselves as superior to other developing countries but certainly the
indicator denotes quality of life of the citizen of a nation. India needs faster pace of growth to achieve these
standards for its teaming millions who are yet untouched by the Countrys economic renaissance. Indias
number of millionaires grew by 51 per cent to 126700 in 2009 according to Merill Lynch and consultants,
boosted by buoyant economy which grew 8.6 per cent in the last fiscal quarter. But increasing wealth has not
trickled down to the common man. Newly built multi storied buildings symbol Indias growing economic
power stand in contrast close to the slums presenting a pathetic picture of inequality. Poverty eradication still
seems far away.

6. Extensive corruption

The license raj in India from 1950s to 1980 sowed the seeds of corruption in the socio- economic structure of
our country. Nexus between politician and business community and criminals is known to all. In recent times
criminalization of Indian politics has assumed alarming proportions. Some parliamentarians face criminal
charges, including human trafficking, embezzlement, rape and even murder. Candidates with criminal records
win election on the strength of their Bahubali status. Paying to get a job done is a common phenomenon
experienced by majority of our countrymen. In recent time, food adulteration has stolen limelight in the news
Channels, even fruits and vegetables are not left to grow normally, toxic injections are administered for their
quick growth.

6
Tons the tons of synthetic milk and milk products are confiscated every other day by the health department
officials but the perpetrators of these crimes who play with the health of unsuspecting masses are set free
without any exemplary punishment. There is a parallel flourishing market of spurious in the country. Spurious
medicines, beverages, cosmetics, good items all are sold without fear as greasing palm to get away is very
easy. Scarcity may be the mother of corruption in general.

7. Terrorism and Insurgency

India is faced with terrorism and insurgency both form across the border and from within. Partition of India
and Pakistan was a parting gift from the British Empire before leaving the country forever. First, it was large
scale invasion by the Kabailis in J&K, then widespread armed insurgency in Kashmir after disputed state
election in 1987. Terrorism and insurgency has left more than 53000 people dead till July 2009. Several
militant groups backed by ISI of Pakistan are operating in Kashmir. Many a times the militants have targeted
people in other cities and towns of the country in suicide attacks. Mumbai attack was an example of their
immaculate planning and preparedness to terrorize the entire nation.

There has been proliferation of militant groups in recent times, with as many as 33 identified in J&K. currently
the country is facing most significant challenge form Islamist fundamentalist groups. If India is facing terrorist
attacks form the militants trained from across the border, threat from across the border, threat from the Naxalite
groups within the country is no less. Maoists are killing people in several districts of the country.

Half-hearted approach to tackle their insurgency and lack of political consensus on this issue has encouraged
them to attack paramilitary forces and common people at will. Unfortunately, these Naxalite groups have tacit
support of some politicians. With more and more successful attacks, the Maoists menace has already grown
big.

8. Competitor China

China which is Indias competitor in becoming superpower is empowering its youth by opening up high
number of universities, imparting education and teaching English. India, on the other hand, is still fighting
implementation of quotas for students and faculty. Meanwhile, students with potential have to resort to
continuing education in private universities which often fail to meet the required standards.

9. Gender Bias

Gender inequalities, female feticide and the treatment meted out to Women in rural areas, child marriages,
continuing practice of dowry and sati take away the leftover sheen from the Shining India. The major divide
between the rich and the poor, lack of proper rural infrastructure even basic amenities like potable water,
toilets, two meals a day, suggest that India has a long route to tread in becoming a superpower.
7
 10. Increase of Regionalism

A strong wave of regionalism is threatening the social fabric Nav Nirman Sena (MNS),. A Maharashtra based
political party is operating on the motto of Bhumiputra (son of the soil). Division of state population on the
basis of birth and language is most unfortunate trend fraught with danger of disintegration and civil strife. If
virus of this trend is transmitted to other states it will cause irreparable damage to unity in diversity

11. Social Security

According to a recent survey around 400 million persons in India are in the working age group, less than 7
per cent are in the organized sector and 93 per cent of the worker s are unorganized. While organized sector
workers have sufficient and reliable access to social security in the form of protection under the law against
loss/ stoppage of income on account of illness, disability, old age, death, maternity, the unorganized sector
which has been contributing more in GDP in the last five decades is deprived of sufficient and reliable access
to promotional and protective social security. As the average number of the senior citizens increases the
concerns about social security will become more pronounced.

12. Monsoon and Agriculture

Agriculture and allied sectors like forestry and village industry account 16 per cent of GDP and despite a
steady decline of its share in GDP, is still the largest economic sector which plays a significant role in the
overall socio-economic development of the country. Slow agriculture growth is a major area of concern is
tow- third of countrys population depends on rural employment for living. Monsoon plays a crucial role in
agriculture production. Due to lack of adequate irrigation system, increased dependence on monsoon has
tremendous impact on Indian agriculture; failure of monsoon, as we have seen in the past, has the capacity to
destabilize the entire economy of the country.

8
 CONCLUSION

India already a leading power in many sectors, it doesnt take much time for India to overtake economy,
military and technological fields of other countries. India still need to reform many things in order to become
a superpower especially when it comes to diplomatic and soft power influence.
Any country on a growth trajectory has to face several hurdles created by external and internal factors during
transition period. It largely depends on the collective will power of the citizens who face these changings and
overcome all obstacles that may come in the way of their country becoming a superpower. If India overcomes
this the above mentioned issues, then there is the scope of its becoming a superpower. But this try should be
made together and not by a bunch of communalities.

9
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

News Articles

BBC News - Why India will not become a superpower - Soutik Biswas Delhi correspondent
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-17350650

Defense News Can India Become A Superpower?

http://defencenews.in/article/Can-India-Become-A-Superpower-8078

The Hindu - Who says India wants to be a superpower? By: Arjun Subramaniam
(APRIL 06, 2012 00:04 IST)
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/who-says-india-wants-to-be-a-
superpower/article3284696.ece

News 18.com - India to become economic superpower by 2030: US intelligence Updated: December

11, 2012, 11:02 AM IST

http://www.news18.com/news/india/tamil-nadu-sslc-supplementary-hall-ticket-2017-released-at-
dge-tn-gov-in-1519965.html

Articles

Never Mind China, India Will Be The Next Education Superpower (MAR 15, 2017 @ 06:10 PM)
BY: NICK MORRISON
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorrison/2017/03/15/never-mind-china-india-will-be-the-next-
education-superpower/

e- blogger - Will India Become a Superpower by 2020? Posted by- Girish Patil at 7:13 pm
http://groupdiscussion99.blogspot.in/2009/06/will-india-become-superpower-by-2020.html

Will India Become Super Power By 2020? How? By: Kaustubh Katdare, Jan 13, 2012
https://www.crazyengineers.com/threads/will-india-become-super-power-by-2020-how.51427/

10