India has made significant progress on several indicators of inclusive growth such as, skill development, financial inclusion, improvement in indices such as Human Development Index, Social Progress Index etc. However, the process of inclusive growth has not been completely actualised. Inclusive growth is significant for overall development in India for following reasons:

• Alleviating poverty and bridging income inequality: As per 2011 Census, about 22% of India’s population lives below the poverty line. Further, an Oxfam report reveals that India’s richest 1% holds more than four- times the wealth held by the bottom 70% of the country’s population. In such a situation,inclusive growth through equitable distribution of resources and sustainable economic growth, will help in lifting millions out of poverty and bridging the gap between the rich and poor.
• Curbing unemployment: According to the National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO) jah survey for 2017-18, the unemployment rate in India was over 6 per cent which is a 45-year high.Inclusive growth can ensure targeted development of physical infrastructure which is crucial for creation of large scale employment opportunities for the unskilled/semi-skilled workers in India.
• Improving healthcare, water and sanitation facilities: Inclusive growth can lead to massive extension of affordable healthcare, control of drug prices, free availability of drinking water and sanitation facilities. This will help in tackling the issues like high infant and maternal mortality, high out-of-pocket health expenditure etc.
• Enhancing the education sector: According to 2011 Census Data, nearly 26% Indians were not literate which is far below world average which is around 14%. Hence, inclusive growth by erasing illiteracy and massive expansion of primary and technical education can enhance labour productivity and gainful employment opportunity of the excluded agents in the current growth process. It will also lead to optimisation of India’s demographic dividend potential.
• Inclusive agriculture: Since agriculture is the largest employment sector in India, its development has a direct correlation with the welfare of millions. Inclusive agriculture will help to tackle the challenges of low income for farmers, lack of access to institutional credit etc.
• Environmental sustainability: Sustainable environmental development is one of the crucial elements of inclusive growth. Thus, inclusive growth will promote environmental sustainability by overcoming the problems like degradation of land, pollution etc.

The government has undertaken several initiatives in this context such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Zojana, MGNREGA, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, PM-KISAN scheme etc. However, more measures are needed to attain multi-dimensional inclusive growth. Further, hitherto marginalised groups such as specially-abled, transgenders, elderly etc. need to be made active participants in the development process going forward.