Revitalising development planning

In the run-up towards the usual rituals of unveiling the Economic Survey and announcing the budget, the government has given the indication to revive the 13th Five-Year Development Plan (2024–29). This vital aspect of our development performance has been in a moribund status for many years. Effectively, the ninth Five-Year Plan for the country was the last initiative that was assigned an official status. Later, the planning exercise was replaced by the preparation of medium-term planning frameworks, “vision documents,” and other similar ventures. Running the country without a plan is akin to subscribing to randomness as the course of action. It is important to note that this regime began its tenure emphasising poverty alleviation, eradication of corruption, and good governance as some of the key references towards economic development. People of various social and economic brackets were warned that due to the mismanagement of past regimes, tougher economic measures shall be taken with efforts to protect the lower income groups.