In 2002, economists Isher Judge Ahluwalia and Ian D. Little published India’s Economic Reforms and Development: Essays for Manmohan Singh, a comprehensive collection of essays that pay tribute to Dr. Manmohan Singh, a key architect of India’s 1991 economic reforms. It explores the profound impacts these reforms have had on the Indian economy.

The essays, contributed by leading economists and policymakers, cover a wide range of topics related to India’s economic transformation. They provide a detailed analysis of the policy changes that dismantled the License-Permit-Quota Raj, liberalized trade, and opened the economy to foreign investment, thereby spurring significant economic growth and integrating the country with the global economy. For instance, Jagdish Bhagwati writes about the trajectory of Indian development, Vijay Joshi analyzes fiscal stabilization in India, T. N. Srinivasan explores India’s export performance, and Raja J. Chelliah considers relations between central and state governments in light of liberalization.

By reflecting on the achievements and ongoing challenges of the reforms, the chapters offer valuable insights into the complexities of policy making and India’s growth trajectory.