Technological transformation in India: the debate between appropriate and frontier technologies

Binod Khadria and Ratnam Mishra

Chapter 6 in Handbook of Innovation & Appropriate Technologies for International Development, 2022, pp 71-85 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Appropriate technology, an alternative approach to capital-intensive large-scale industries, imparts simple and indigenous technology solutions to improve the livelihood of people in resource-constrained environments. The chapter highlights the historical trajectory of technological advancements and the associated challenges faced in India. It discusses the history of technological transformations that took place in India from Gandhian 'Swadeshi and basic needs approach' to 'Nehruvian socialist approach' towards technological development and eventually discusses the impact of economic reforms on technology. Citing the examples of suitability and non-suitability of appropriate technology, the chapter critically examines the applicability of small-scale technology in Indian context and also how well it fits into the current structural framework of Indian economy. Keeping in view, the significant technological developments and innovations that India has witnessed in last few decades, the chapter draws upon some elements of frugal and frontier technology-based solutions which is 'appropriate' for the economic environment of India.

Keywords: Development Studies; Economics and Finance; Innovations and Technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/view/edcoll/9781800887824/9781800887824.00013.xml (application/pdf)
Our link check indicates that this URL is bad, the error code is: 503 Service Temporarily Unavailable

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:20782_6

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Darrel McCalla ().