Reimagining Development in India: A Critical Analysis of the Viksit Bharat Vision

In recent years, Viksit Bharat has emerged as a central development vision guiding India’s long-term national aspirations, particularly in the context of achieving comprehensive socio-economic transformation by 2047. While the vision has gained significant policy and political prominence, there remains a limited body of scholarly work critically examining its conceptual foundations, developmental priorities, and governance implications. This paper seeks to reimagine development in India through a critical analysis of the Viksit Bharat vision, situating it within broader debates on development theory, state-led growth, and sustainable development. Adopting a qualitative and conceptual approach, the study analyses key policy documents, official narratives, and secondary literature to assess the extent to which Viksit Bharat aligns with principles of inclusivity, sustainability, and institutional capacity. By unpacking both the opportunities and constraints embedded within the Viksit Bharat framework, the study contributes to ongoing academic discourse on national development visions and offers policy-relevant insights for strengthening India’s developmental trajectory. The findings underscore the need for translating aspirational narratives into measurable, institutionally grounded, and inclusive development strategies.