India's Industrial Revolution: Navigating Job-Oriented Growth Amidst Global Geopolitical Realities

This study probes India’s industrial revolution, centering on a job-driven growth model within the nuanced framework of global geopolitical dynamics. Despite over seven decades of independence, India continues to face profound challenges in realizing comprehensive industrial and agricultural revolutions, marked by rising unemployment, widening income inequality, and a growing reliance on private corporate entities. Drawing upon recent reports and economic data, this analysis examines key impediments to India’s growth, including its significant dependence on energy imports, the widening wealth gap, and a rising public debt burden. India’s evolving geopolitical posture plays a dual role: strengthening alliances with the United States, Europe, and Japan while consolidating its leadership within the Global South. The study further investigates India’s diplomatic balancing act in navigating strategic relationships with China and Russia amid a rapidly changing global landscape. Ultimately, this paper emphasizes the necessity of a sustainable industrial strategy rooted in workforce development, innovation, and economic self-reliance, aiming to position India to navigate its complex role on the international stage while fostering inclusive growth domestically. Received: 12 September 2024 / Accepted: 8 November 2024 / Published: 20 November 2024