India’s emerging social policy paradigm : productive, protective or what?
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journal of Asian Public Policy
Publication Date
2017
Volume
10
Issue
1
First Page
40
Last Page
56
Publisher
Routledge
Keywords
productive welfare, social protection, social rights, India
Abstract
This article presents a cross-disciplinary review of state-of-the-art explorations of India’s emerging social policy paradigm during the two recent Centre/Left Congress/United Progressive Alliance (UPA) governments (2004–2009, 2009–2014). In doing so, it revises existing classifications of social policy activity in India by tracing quantitative inputs and outcomes over time and assessing the extension of social rights via newly introduced social policy programmes. We find little evidence that India has moved beyond its failing informal welfare regime features characterized by a weakly developed mix of productive–protective welfare policy interventions, comparatively low social expenditure and mixed social outcomes. Furthermore, testing the transformative character of social policy innovations, we conclude that India’s approach to social protection has so far remained essentially residual, even minimalist, in character. Addressing the key developmental challenges India faces will therefore necessitate further reaching changes towards a more encompassing and inclusive social model that will in turn help to better generate productive assets among the Indian poor.
DOI
10.1080/17516234.2016.1258521
Print ISSN
17516234
E-ISSN
17516242
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2016 Routledge. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Kühner, S., & Nakray, K. (2017). India’s emerging social policy paradigm: productive, protective or what? Journal of Asian Public Policy, 10(1), 40-56. doi: 10.1080/17516234.2016.1258521