Abstract
This study is a preliminary investigation of the nature of change in inter-regional disparities in economic and social development in India, in the light of the prevalent views in this regard across the world. Attention is particularly focused on a comparison between India's regional experience in the pre- and in the post-reform periods, with the year 1990-1991 being considered as the dividing line between the two periods. The article is divided for analytical convenience into seven parts. Part one is introductory and gives the raison d'être for this study. Part two goes on to give the scope, nature of data and methodology used in the study. Part three contains an examination of the prevalent views regarding the pattern of regional change during the process of national economic development. Parts four and five examine India's regional experience in the pre- and post-reform periods in the light of these views. The sixth part compares the regional development experience of the country between the pre- and the post-reform periods. The concluding part brings together the main findings of the study attempting also to draw some broad policy inferences.
JEL Classification: R11
