# How India's Policies Shaped Economic Growth

> India's economic journey from 1947 to 2026 through key policies.
- Title: How India's Policies Shaped Economic Growth · Financialexpress
- Summary: India's economic journey from 1947 to 2026 through key policies. Author Madan Sabnavis traces India's policy evolution from 1947 to 2026, highlighting how…
- Keywords: india, economic policies, five-year plans, fiscal reforms, telecom revolution, mid-day meal scheme, pds, dbt, mgnrega, gst, demonetisation, farm laws
- Source: Financialexpress — https://financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle/down-the-policy-path/4384767
- Author: FE Bureau
- Published: 2026-11-14T16:56:21+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: india, economic policies, five-year plans, fiscal reforms, telecom revolution, mid-day meal scheme, pds, dbt, mgnrega, gst, demonetisation, farm laws
## Policy Evolution
Author Madan Sabnavis traces India's economic growth from 1947 to 2026 through major policies.
## Early Economic Strategy
Post-independence India adopted an inward-looking strategy with self-sufficiency as its core focus.
## Five-Year Plans
The second five-year plan embraced the Mahalanobis Model for heavy industry investment.
## Fiscal Landscape
The book details fiscal evolution from tax devolution to GST and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
## 1990s Reforms
The 1990s reforms addressed balance of payments crises and opened markets to foreign investment.
## Welfare Policies
The mid-day meal scheme, PDS, DBT, and MGNREGA transformed daily life for millions.
## Controversial Decisions
Demonetisation and farm laws highlight policies that did not always meet intended outcomes.
## Key Quote
Keynes said: 'The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood.'

> Keynes said: 'The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood.'
## Policy Impact
India became the world's fifth-largest economy with a preferred investment destination status.
## Key takeaway

Author Madan Sabnavis traces India's policy evolution from 1947 to 2026, highlighting how economic policies transformed the nation into the world's fifth-largest economy.