Now Reading: Indian economy 4th largest in 2003: Vajpayee’s last speech
-
01
Indian economy 4th largest in 2003: Vajpayee’s last speech
Hindustan Times revisits Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 2003 Independence Day address from the Red Fort, his last such speech. In it, he declared that the Indian economy had become the world's…
The Story in Brief
Hindustan Times revisits Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 2003 Independence Day address from the Red Fort, his last such speech. In it, he declared that the Indian economy had become the world's fourth largest in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. He highlighted economic growth, development, poverty alleviation and the need for benefits to reach ordinary citizens.
The news site is running a series on iconic Independence Day speeches by prime ministers. Vajpayee's 2003 address marked his final August 15 speech as PM.
The Indian Opinion
Nostalgia for the Vajpayee years often glosses over the actual numbers. In 2003, India's GDP (nominal) ranked 12th globally; the fourth-largest claim rested on purchasing power parity (PPP). The same metric, applied today, keeps India third behind China and the US. The real test is whether per capita income and job creation have kept pace with the aggregate numbers. That question remains unanswered for every government since.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
