Source: New Hampshire Public Radio
Home to a sixth of the world’s population and the third largest economy, India is certainly not a force to be ignored. With a GDP beyond the size of Japan’s, and a population getting close to China’s. At this magnitude, India’s economic problems are on a huge scale as well: a per capita income of two thousand dollars a year, a stubbornly sluggish growth rate, inflation almost at ten percent, and more than three hundred million people living in poverty. On the political front, there are challenges as well: tensions with India’s 13% Muslim population in an otherwise Hindu nation, and rising concern over violence against women. Now, all eyes are on new prime minister Narendra Modi to see which direction he’ll take the country, after his historic victory shook up India’s status quo.
Carnegie’s Milan Vaishnav and Matt Slaughter spoke with New Hampshire Public Radio’s Exchange about the challenges facing India and the new Modi government.
This interview was originally broadcast by New Hampshire Public Radio.