report · report
Economic Development and State Autonomy
ADULT EDUCATION INSTITUTE · Bombay · 1973
2 pages
Summary
This two-page institutional report records a seminar on economic development and state autonomy organised by the Adult Education Institute in Bombay on March 24, 1973. Most participants criticised the centralised role of the Union Government in economic planning and argued that greater state autonomy should include powers over taxation, banking, foreign exchange, foreign collaboration, and investment. The report presents Dr. R. C. Cooper’s paper as the basis for discussion, including his claim that competition among states could attract capital, strengthen investment incentives, and promote economic growth.
The discussion also records a less radical position: India might remain a single interdependent economic unit while giving states a larger role within the existing framework. M. R. Masani argued that backward states were disadvantaged under the prevailing arrangement and supported rationalising the tax structure to create investment incentives. Cooper further pointed to Hong Kong and Singapore as relevant examples for Indian states, while the report concludes that a viable Indian federation might require a larger number of economically and administratively manageable states.
Key points
- The seminar challenged the over-centralisation of economic planning by the Union Government.
- State autonomy was described as involving taxation, banking, foreign exchange, foreign collaboration, and investment powers.
- Dr. R. C. Cooper argued that competition among states could attract capital and encourage economic growth.
- Participants differed between advocating a radical restructuring of Centre–State relations and seeking decentralisation within the existing framework.
- M. R. Masani argued for tax reform and greater opportunities for backward states to attract investment.
- The report records a proposal for creating more economically and administratively manageable states.
- Hong Kong and Singapore were cited as examples relevant to the economic development of Indian states.
Metadata and summary are AI-extracted from the source PDF and reviewed for editorial accuracy. The original work is available via the Read PDF tab above (where present); paragraph-level citation inside the PDF is deferred to a future engagement.
