India Risks Becoming “Unhealthier Before It Becomes Richer,” Warns Chief Economic Advisor
New Delhi, June 14 (ANI): India’s Chief Economic Advisor (CEA), V. Anantha Nageswaran, has cautioned that the country’s greater challenge may not be ageing before becoming prosperous, but becoming unhealthy before achieving higher levels of economic development.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Nageswaran said India’s working-age population will continue to grow for some time, providing the country with a demographic advantage. However, he stressed that deteriorating health indicators, particularly rising obesity levels and sedentary lifestyles, could undermine productivity and economic growth.
Referring to findings from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), the CEA noted that while India has made significant progress in reducing infant mortality, increasing institutional deliveries, and improving maternal health, obesity has increased across all sections of society, including rural and urban populations, men and women, and different income groups.
According to Nageswaran, lifestyle changes, lack of physical activity, poor urban planning, and unhealthy eating habits are contributing to the trend. He described the fact that only about six out of every hundred Indians exercise regularly as “shocking.”
He argued that modern urban infrastructure often prioritizes vehicles over pedestrians and cyclists, reducing opportunities for daily physical activity. To counter this, he encouraged people to incorporate exercise into their everyday routines by taking stairs, walking during breaks, and reducing reliance on elevators.
The CEA also highlighted the importance of healthy eating habits, particularly avoiding late-night meals and remaining active after lunch and dinner to improve metabolic health and insulin regulation.
Health as an Economic Growth Driver
Nageswaran emphasized that physical and mental health are increasingly being viewed as critical components of economic development. He noted that recent Economic Surveys have consistently highlighted the role of health in enhancing labor productivity and sustaining long-term growth.
“Growth ultimately comes from productivity,” he said, adding that workers cannot remain productive if they are physically unfit or mentally stressed. He also underscored the importance of mental well-being and advocated periodic “digital detox” practices to reduce stress and improve overall performance.
Describing better health outcomes as a source of “hidden growth potential,” he said a decline in obesity rates in future NFHS surveys could contribute significantly to economic growth. He added that the vision of Viksit Bharat extends beyond industrial expansion and technological advancement to include stronger human capital and healthier citizens.
Nageswaran noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also repeatedly emphasized the importance of fitness and healthy lifestyles in his public addresses.
East Asian Lesson: Support Industry, But Demand Results
In a separate discussion on industrial policy, Nageswaran outlined what he believes is the most important lesson India can learn from successful East Asian economies such as China, South Korea, and Vietnam.
He observed that these countries not only protected and supported domestic industries but also demanded measurable performance in return. Government assistance, whether in the form of subsidies, concessional loans, or land allocations, was linked to clear outcomes such as higher productivity, export growth, and international competitiveness.
“If performance was not delivered, government support was withdrawn,” he explained, stressing that industrial protection should never be unconditional.
The CEA also acknowledged the broader reforms implemented by East Asian economies, including investments in education, skills development, and land reforms. However, he said the key lesson for India’s current industrial strategy is straightforward: protection should be provided only in exchange for performance, productivity, and global competitiveness.
Manufacturing Has Grown With the Economy
Addressing concerns about India’s manufacturing sector, Nageswaran rejected the view that manufacturing has stagnated. He said that while manufacturing has not outpaced the services sector, it has expanded broadly in line with overall economic growth.
According to him, manufacturing’s share of India’s GDP has remained relatively stable at around 17–18 percent, indicating that the sector has grown alongside the broader economy.
He also reflected on historical policy choices, stating that India missed opportunities between the 1960s and 1990s due to inadequate infrastructure investment and excessive emphasis on reserving industries for small-scale enterprises. Economic reforms initiated in the 1990s, he said, have gradually addressed some of these structural limitations.
Nageswaran’s remarks highlight two critical themes for India’s development journey: the need to improve public health to sustain productivity and the importance of linking industrial support to measurable economic performance. Together, he suggested, these factors will play a decisive role in achieving India’s long-term goal of becoming a developed nation.
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