IMPACTS OF WAR ON THE INDIAN ECONOMY: A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

War is often seen as a military or political issue, but it also has strong economic and social effects. In today’s globalised world, even countries that are not directly involved in war, like India, face serious economic problems. These include rising fuel prices, inflation, disrupted trade, unstable financial markets, and overall uncertainty. As a developing country, India is especially vulnerable to such global shocks. This paper studies the impact of war on the Indian economy from a sociological point of view. It argues that war should not be understood only in terms of economic loss or market instability, but also as something that changes society. War influences how the government sets its priorities, how people work, and how resources are distributed. It also affects everyday life and social relationships. The study is based on qualitative analysis using secondary data from sources like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and academic research in sociology and political economy. It focuses on key areas such as inflation, energy shortages, trade disruptions, supply chain problems, rising defence spending, food price increases, and financial instability. A key argument of the paper is that the effects of war are not equal for everyone. Poor people, informal workers, farmers, marginalised communities, women, and lower-middle-class groups suffer more because they are more affected by rising prices, job insecurity, and limited access to welfare support. The paper also highlights that during times of war, governments often spend more on defence, which can reduce spending on social welfare and development. In conclusion, war should be seen as both an economic and social process. To fully understand its impact on India, we must look beyond economic data and examine how it affects inequality, daily life, and government priorities.