ABOUT THE BOOK In the wake of unprecedented external payment crisis of 1991, India has witnessed wide-ranging economic reforms encompassing various sectors of the economy. A critical ingredient of the reform process has been the gradual opening up of India?s external sector. The trade regime has been significantly liberalised with the abolition of quantitative restrictions and reduction in tariff rates. Non-debt creating flows are being encouraged. In short, the following, inter alia, have been the chief elements of the policy of external sector reforms since 1991: (a) maintenance of an acceptable level of current account deficit, (b) market determined exchange rate regime, (c) building up reserves by encouraging non-debt creating flows and de-emphasising debt creating flows, particularly short-term debt, and (d) creating a congenial environment for foreign direct investment. Against this backdrop and in recognition of the growing importance of the external sector in driving the economy, this book is focused on the developments of India?s external sector since 1991. It examines developments in the following segments of India?s external sector: foreign trade, export-import policy, tariff policy, current account management, capital account dynamics, foreign exchange reserves, exchange rate policies, external debt and aid, foreign direct investment and foreign portfolio investment.

This original conceptualization provides insights into the role of inequality in the processes of change in rural India. It presents in-depth analyses and understanding of the nature and form of inequality, and its causes and consequences. The volume examines interpersonal, intergroup, and intrapersonal inequalities in the country’s rural transformation. Through research based on ethnographic, primary survey and secondary data methods, this multidimensional study discusses key themes such as normative and descriptive inequalities; class, caste and other identities; economic poverty; educational poverty; poverty in health; gendered poverty; inequality and power; the impact of migration; ethical issues and vulnerabilities; and suicidal consequences of inequality. It builds cohesive arguments, based on the development of several new indicators, to examine rural inequality. This book will be of interest to scholars and researchers of political economy, economics, development studies, development economics, sociology, public policy, political science, political sociology, and rural sociology.

Contributed papers presented at a workshop held in September 2001 in New Delhi.

This book offers an assessment of the performance, impact, and welfare implications of the world’s largest employment guarantee programme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Launched by the Indian government, the programme covers entire rural area of the country. The book presents various micro-level analyses of the programme and its heterogeneous impacts at different scales, almost a decade after its implementation. While there are some doubts over the future of the scheme as well as its magnitude, nature and content, the central government appears committed to it, as a ‘convergence scheme’ of various other welfare and rural development programmes being implemented at both national and state level. The book discusses the outcomes of the programme and offers critical insights into the lessons learnt, not only in the context of India, but also for similar schemes in countries in South and South-East Asia as well as in Africa, and Latin America. Adopting inter-disciplinary perspectives in analysing these issues, this unique book uses a judicious mix of methods---integrating quantitative and qualitative tools---and will be an invaluable resource for analysts, NGOs, policymakers and academics alike.

Written by an international team of young scholars, 'Rural India Facing the 21st Century' draws together a profound analysis of a broad range of issues to provide a masterly overview of overall rural development. Its highly original methodology and findings will be of considerable interest for development policy.