Which is Better: The UPA or NDA in Terms of Economic Growth, Social Welfare, and Infrastructure?

Introduction

India's journey under the governance of two significant political coalitions, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has been marked by contrasting economic, social, and infrastructural article provides an in-depth comparison of the UPA’s six-year tenure from 2004 to 2010 and the NDA's tenure from 2014 to September 2021, focusing on the impact on economic growth, social welfare, and infrastructure development.

UPA’s First Six Years (2004-2010)

Economic Growth

During the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)'s first six years in power from 2004 to 2010, India witnessed robust economic growth, marked by an average annual growth rate of around 8.5%. This period was characterized by a global economic boom, which significantly supported India's growth trajectory. However, the UPA faced challenges in fiscal management, struggling to bring down the high fiscal deficit, which began to decline gradually during this period.

Infrastructure Development

The UPA government made significant strides in infrastructure development, particularly in sectors like roads, ports, and power. This period saw the implementation of various social welfare programs aimed at poverty alleviation and improving rural healthcare.

Social Welfare Programs

The UPA government launched several social welfare programs, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). These initiatives were designed to address poverty and enhance healthcare facilities in rural areas, making significant contributions to social welfare.

NDA’s Six Years (2014-September 2021)

Economic Growth

During the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s first six years, India experienced a mixed economic performance. The early years saw relatively high economic growth rates, but this was followed by a slowdown in subsequent years. The economy faced challenges such as the Demonetization initiative in 2016 and the impact of the global economic slowdown in 2020, particularly during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, the NDA government managed to decelerate the growth rate down to around 4% in 2019-2020.

Economic Reforms

One of the key highlights of the NDA government's tenure was the initiation of several economic reforms aimed at enhancing ease of doing business, fostering foreign investment, and promoting a digital economy. Significant initiatives included the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

Infrastructure Development

The NDA continued and expanded infrastructure development initiatives, focusing on road development, rail networks, and power sector reforms. Additionally, the NDA introduced several fiscal measures aimed at reducing state fiscal clouds and addressing financial inclusion.

Social Welfare Programs

The NDA government continued and expanded upon the welfare programs established by the UPA, including MGNREGA and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). These programs were pivotal in addressing poverty and enhancing the financial inclusion of marginalized communities.

Dividend and Disinvestment

Another notable area of focus during the NDA’s tenure was the introduction of fiscal measures aimed at improving state finances and reducing fiscal clouds through dividend and disinvestment policies.

Conclusion

Both the UPA and NDA governments have made significant contributions to India’s socio-economic landscape. While the UPA’s tenure was marked by robust growth supported by a global economic boom, the NDA’s tenure was more challenging, but still saw substantial progress in economic reforms and infrastructure development. The path to progress and prosperity is ongoing, with each government bringing its unique set of strategies and challenges to the table.