Journal of Developing Societies

India’s ambitious claim to development presents a profound challenge: can the traditional state-led model truly bridge the gap between lofty promises and on-the-ground realities? While alternative development paradigms—such as gender-sensitive, eco-centric, and culturally rooted approaches—have illuminated the stark disparities that persist across regions and communities, the urgent need to champion grassroots empowerment and safeguard the rights of marginalized populations remains undeniable in a vast and diverse country like India. This article delves deep into the paradoxes embedded within India’s development journey, critically unpacking how well-intentioned initiatives often yield contradictory outcomes. By weaving together multiple contextual and synoptic perspectives, it advocates for a transformative shift toward a “nature-need and people-centric” development model—one that places ecological sustainability and human dignity at its core. Ultimately, this study calls for reimagining development not just as economic growth but also as an inclusive, holistic process that truly resonates with the lived realities of India’s diverse populace.

The Adivasis’ deprival of the primary need of life, land, has rendered them categorically insecure in India. Acknowledging Kerala in general and Attappady in particular as one of the focal points of tension and contention, this article delineates four trajectories. First, it underscores the mnemonic security of the state in a crisis, wherein the memories and narratives of important events are mediated by the state to uphold its version. Second, it highlights the epistemic violence—the willful negation of agency and knowledge—perpetrated by the state and the participatory subjectivity—passive acceptance of the subject -position—concurrently embodied by the Irulas. Third, it looks at how memorialized security—providing security by cinching transactions through physical commemoration practices—in the form of title deeds for uncultivable land reifies or accentuates the landlessness of the Irulas. Fourth, it throws light on the central problems of the Irulas with respect to land-awarding initiatives and offers recommended solutions put forward by them to induce desired policy changes.

The study aims to map the research elements and evolution of the extant literature on the sharing economy in developing countries through a bibliometric analysis of 326 publications and a content analysis of the most cited publications. It informs about the trends, influential contributors, and thematic underpinnings of research in the area. Trust gaps, information asymmetry, lack of infrastructure, and access and regulatory issues are identified as challenges facing the growth of a sharing economy in developing nations. Future research avenues and implications have been indicated.

In post-reform India that is from 1990 onwards mineral-based growth of underdeveloped mineral-rich states has been illusory. Such a strategy of development marginalizes the indigenous people sustaining their living on natural resources of their region of inhabitation and pushes them to a new regime of poverty, inequality, and deprivation while enriching outsiders. Based on the frequent visits of the researcher to the mineral-rich Northern Plateau region of Odisha, India since 1990s, the present study makes its focuses on the socio-political dynamics of economic development and change occurring in the region and its implications for the sustainable living of the indigenous people of the state. The study uses both descriptive and analytical methods and for the purpose, both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through direct observations of the mines area, village survey, and focus group discussions held with mixed target groups of population in the study area.

The total fertility rate (TFR) is crucial for accessing a country’s demographic health. This study examines changes in India’s TFR from 2005 to 2021 using National Family Health Survey data, focusing on socio-demographic factors such as residence, education, and wealth index. Results show a national decline from 2.68 in 2005–2006 to 1.99 in 2021, an 18.65% decrease, with only a modest reduction of 0.19 children (8.71%) between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5. While southern and western states have reached below-replacement fertility, four large northern states Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh continue to exhibit higher fertility, reflecting uneven demographic transition. Findings indicate that while India has entered a low-fertility regime, regional disparities hinder population stabilization. Without stronger investments in women’s education, reproductive health, and regional equity, the benefits of fertility decline including lower mortality, improved gender equality, and the demographic dividend will however remain uneven. Bridging these gaps is essential for India’s demographic transition to yield inclusive social and economic progress.