Path for inclusive India lies in decentralisation

India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing large economies in the post-Covid period. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) confirms that 415 million persons came out of multi-dimensional poverty in India between 2005-06 and 2019-2021. The Covid disruption, however, compromised some of the gains. Recovery is still on for the bottom quintiles. Monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) has risen. Per capita incomes, however, remain low. Social indicators have improved post-2005, but there is still a very long way to go