# Padmini Swaminathan book reassesses India’s industrial policy 2026-08-13T05:52:24+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Economist Padmini Swaminathan's new book, 'India's Industrial Policy: A Reassessment', examines colonial and post-Independence industrialisation, with a focus on Tamil Nadu. Published by Primus Books at Rs 1,250, the 540-page work draws on archival sources to trace tensions between imperial interests and provincial government in the Madras Presidency. The book highlights how European mercantile communities opposed local industrial development, favouring only technical education. It also critiques post-liberalisation policies, arguing that self-regulating markets failed to deliver expected industrialisation. Swaminathan notes that Indian R&D, often through foreign collaborations, adapts technology for domestic use rather than innovating globally. ## Coverage - frontline.thehindu.com Tags: colonial history, Industrial Policy, Padmini Swaminathan, R&D, Tamil Nadu, TVS Group Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/padmini-swaminathan-book-reassesses-indias-industrial-policy/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/padmini-swaminathan-book-reassesses-indias-industrial-policy/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.