20 charts illustrating India's development journey since independence

　　Indian Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation from the Red Fort on the 76th Independence Day on the 15th local time, stating that India's goal is to become a developed nation within 25 years and to formulate policies to support domestic production in electricity, defense, and digital technology. He criticized issues such as corruption and nepotism in Indian government departments, stating that India is entering a critical period for anti-corruption and calling on citizens to support the fight against corruption.

　　The Times of India presented India's 75-year development journey in the form of 20 charts.

Largest Democracy

　　With 912 million eligible voters, India is the world's largest democracy. Approximately 69% of the eligible population registered to vote, and 67% of them exercised their franchise in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, compared to 45.67% in 1951. Sixth Largest Economy

　　India has overcome immense challenges since independence to become the world's sixth-largest economy today. With an economy valued at $3.17 trillion, India ranks behind the United States, China, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Independence itself was a major turning point in India's economic history. Since 1947, its per capita income has also increased 500-fold. Exports are the Main Driver of Growth

　　India exported goods and services worth only $1.27 billion between 1950-51. Due to a strict policy regime, growth almost stagnated in the following decades. In recent years, India has opened its economy to the world—especially after implementing the liberalization, privatization, and globalization (LPG) policies introduced by the government in 1991. Significant Increase in Foreign Exchange Reserves

　　Despite recent depletion of foreign exchange reserves, India's foreign exchange reserves still rank fourth globally. During 1951-52, foreign exchange reserves were only $1.82 billion, stagnating amidst the economic growth challenges post-independence. 500% Increase in Food Grain Production

　　To comprehensively boost its rural economy, India's food grain production has increased by 500% since independence. Although India is primarily an agricultural economy, with 85% of its population living in villages and relying on agriculture for their livelihood, the country was not self-sufficient in food. Due to frequent famines, the average food supply was not only insufficient but also uncertain. Comprehensive National Highway Network

　　The government has done an excellent job in building a comprehensive highway network, which is continuously being upgraded. From 1950-51 to 2021-22, highway construction increased sevenfold. The annual construction rate of four-lane, six-lane, and eight-lane national highways (NHs) has grown by over 300% in the past seven years. Electricity Sector Growth

　　India has successfully transformed into a power-surplus nation, with a total installed capacity of 370106 GWh. When the country gained independence, the total installed capacity was 1362 GWh. Since then, ensuring electricity supply to almost all homes in the country has come a long way. On April 28, 2018, the government announced that all census villages were electrified. The last electrified village was Leisang village in Manipur. Surge in Registered Motor Vehicles

　　The number of registered motor vehicles has surged from only 300,000 in 1951 to nearly 300 million in 2019. The increase in registered motor vehicles indicates improved accessibility and quality of transportation for citizens. Over the past decade, the total number of registered motor vehicles in India has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 9.91%. Third Largest Domestic Aviation Market

　　As India celebrated Independence Day, the government released data showing how passenger traffic at the country's airports has increased, witnessing a significant 30-fold growth in 40 years. Last year, India became the world's third-largest domestic aviation market.

Leading Global Milk Production

　　India ranks first in global milk production, accounting for 23% of the world's output. In the past 3 years, India's milk production has more than tripled. Production increased from 17 tons in 1950-51 to 209.96 tons in 2020-21. Third Largest Egg Producer

　　India is the world's third largest egg producer. The country's egg production increased from 1.83 billion in 1950-51 to 122.11 billion in 2020-21. During the same period, the per capita egg supply also jumped from 5 eggs per year to 90 eggs. 75% Literacy Rate

　　When India gained independence from British rule, the country was left with a vast majority of its population unable to read or write. In 1950, only two out of ten Indians were literate. Although India's overall literacy rate was very low, just over 18%, female literacy was as low as 8.86%. By 2022, this trend has almost reversed. From a literacy rate of 18.3% in 1951 to 74.4% in 2018, India has made significant strides in building an educated nation. Data shows that girls surpass boys in receiving primary education. Higher Education Enrollment

　　India has 1043 universities and over 42,000 colleges for its ambitious youth. In 1950, India had only 27 universities and 578 colleges. According to government data, student enrollment increased by 11.4% from 2015-16 to 2019-20. During the same period, female higher education enrollment increased by 18.2%. Expanded Scope of Medical Education

　　Similar to primary and secondary education, the scope of medical education has also expanded to accommodate more students and meet the country's growing healthcare needs. In 1950, India had only 28 medical colleges in total, with negligible private sector participation. However, the number of medical colleges has been steadily increasing, especially since the latter decades of the last century, including many from the private sector. Doctor-to-Population Ratio

　　Since 1951, the number of doctors in India has grown significantly—from just over 61,000 to currently over 1.3 million, synchronized with population growth and the establishment of more medical colleges. In addition to allopathic doctors, another 565,000 rural medical practitioners also provide valuable services, often in remote areas with limited medical facilities. Schools

　　Since independence, the number of schools has continuously increased, growing more than tenfold—from 140,000 in 1947 to over 1.5 million currently. Swachch Bharat Mission

　　According to the government, with India's Swachch Bharat Mission in full swing, the country achieved its goal of 100% rural sanitation coverage well before the 75th Independence Day. Data shows that in 1981, rural sanitation facilities (percentage of population with toilets inside/attached to homes) was only 1%. Decline in Infant Mortality Rate

　　India's infant mortality rate (IMR) has significantly decreased over the past 75 years. The IMR has reduced from 146‰ in 1951 to 30‰ in 2019. Life expectancy doubled

In 1951, the average life expectancy for Indian men was 37.2 years. It is now 68.2 years. The life expectancy for women was 36.2 years and 70.7 years, respectively. In fact, an average Indian woman can now expect to live several years longer than an average man.