Published Paper Details:

Abstract: The concept of regional Economic Development in India has emerged due to the fact that India is a large federal nation and there are widespread disparities in the levels of economic and social development among different regions of the Indian nation. Indian economy started its journey to economic development from a closed economic set-up having considerable faith in centralized planning and with commanding heights reserved for the public sector. At the initial stages of national economic development economic disparities got increased and as a result there arose the necessity of initiating deliberate policy measures to curb these regional disparities. Having recognized the existence of widespread heterogeneity among the regions and their accompanying problems decentralized planning technique has been adopted. The idea of Decentralized planning has been familiar to planners for a long time with a view to achieve development of widely dispersed areas and to provide solution to locality specific problems. The second and the third plans had mentioned local horizontal plans, preparation of state plans based on district and block level plans and devolution of responsibilities to Panchayeti Raj Institutions. However these ideas did not really take off, particularly due to inadequacy of planning capabilities at such levels. With the outbreak of COVID-19 and consequent lockdown the entire economy has become a sufferer. Complete stoppage of production of goods and services has wiped out the supply chain. . COVID has hit the external sector as well. Within a moment of time nothing can be changed much. Gradual recovery process with conscious and judicious efforts is to be started.