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Background of the New Economic Policy

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Estimated time: 9 minutes
CBSE: Class 12

The Economic Crisis of the 1980s

  • India's economic management in the 1980s was inefficient.
  • Government expenditure consistently exceeded revenue, leading to large fiscal deficits.
  • The deficit was financed through heavy external borrowings.
  • Imports grew rapidly but exports did not keep pace — resulting in a Balance of Payments (BoP) crisis.
  • Foreign exchange reserves fell to critically low levels.
  • Inflation rose sharply, further straining the economy.
  • India was unable to secure further external loans from other countries.
CBSE: Class 12

India Seeks International Help

  • India approached the World Bank (IBRD) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
  • Received a loan of ₹7 billion dollars.
  • The loan came with conditionalities, requiring India to:
  • Liberalise the economy.
  • Reduce the role of the government in economic activity.
  • Reform trade policy.
CBSE: Class 12

New Economic Policy - Structure

The NEP was introduced as a two-pronged package:

Measure Time Frame Purpose
Stabilisation Measures Short-term Correct BoP crisis; control inflation
Structural Reforms Long-term Improve efficiency and competitiveness
CBSE: Class 12

Key Points: Background of New Economic Policy (1991)

  • Inefficient economic management and large fiscal deficits in the 1980s triggered India's financial crisis.
  • Exports could not match rising imports, causing a severe Balance of Payments crisis.
  • Foreign exchange reserves declined and inflation rose sharply.
  • India approached World Bank and IMF and received a $7 billion loan with reform conditionalities.
  • The New Economic Policy (NEP) comprised stabilisation measures (short-term) and structural reforms (long-term).
  • The NEP was organised under three heads: Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation.
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