Planning and economic policy in India.

This publication contains a series of notes, memoranda, etc. written by me since the beginning of 1955 all of which are connected with planning in India and the policy of government. A large number of these were written for the Panel of Economists of the Planning Commission. Most of the notes, memoranda, or articles were written at somewhat short notice, and they examine problems chiefly from the point of view of formulation of practical policies. They are presented together in this publication and reprinted because of a variety of considerations. They might give the reader an idea of the level at which an economist in India, advising government in con nection with planning, works or has to work. Special attention may be drawn to two aspects of this operation. For the most part, the panel of economists and its members did not work in relation to specific problems presented concretely for their consideration and it was not possible for them to take for granted definitive govern ment policy decisions in the context of which plan developments could be analysed or projected. The first paper in this publication raises a number of issues in relation to policy, which appear relevant to the making of plans. It is no exaggeration to say that, in relation to a majority of the issues so raised, no firm decisions have been reached even today.