Comment by negamax | Hacker News Reader

Comment by negamax | Hacker News Reader

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Let me add more to OP's comment. 200 times definitely is a hyperbole. But at the time of independence India used to produce nothing. We had zero industrial production.

Today, India exports software, financial and knowledge services, heavy machinery, cars and what not. We even stopped taking foreign aid and had been a giver to EU.

I will fully admit and have no doubt that there are tons of problem. From population to poor leadership. But I do agree with OP that India of today is far well off as compared to India at the time of independence and a large part of population is out of poverty. We do have drag of corruption, over population and poor leadership. But their are voices against all these ills and I hope (yes, I am not sure) that we be able to overcome these one day.

Comparisons with China are good. India(ns) had always been a competitor to Pakistan. Country we feel ashamed to be associated with now. On the other hand, we are all too aware of China's success. But it's not the win of communism over democracy but good leadership over poor (and ulterior) leadership.

India still receives foreign aid, around 60m pounds from the UK alone this year. Though the UK's development aid will be phased out by 2015, when technical aid & assistance will replace development aid.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20265583

China has much higher levels of corruption than India, in terms of pure cash stolen and likely as a percentage of the economy too. Its just that in China the infrastructure is built (even if poorly & massively overpriced, with much hidden) and the pie from which to be stolen from is enlarged by state owned and controlled enterprises. While in India, the infrastructure is not built and the pie mostly stays the same size because no one wants to give up control, even if it means they could steal even more if the pie was bigger.

No, it does not. India had asked UK to stop giving it aid. UK's response was that it reflects badly on domestic politics. India has pledged $10 billion to IMF as aid to EU

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-05/uk/31...

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/19/g2o-brics-statement...

Currency pledges to the IMF are not foreign aid.

Some ministers may have asked Britain to stop providing development assistance, but programs are still being coordinated with Indian ministries and assistance being delivered. At least according to the first link, the 280m pounds is hardly 'peanuts', considering it is targeted development aid that may well have a far greater impact on those it helps, for particular issues they are addressing, than the current government spending.

Many countries and even developed countries take aid. Sure if India accepts even 2 cents as aid from some other country, it is technically getting foreign aid. But I guess the important question is, how much percent of the government expense is in part due to aid from other countries and as far as I understand its not much these days. I think that is the point the other OP was also trying to make.

Corruption is bad in China, but not as bad as it is in India.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index

India is ranked 96th, China is ranked 80th (the US is ranked 19th).

You somehow miss that 65 years have passed since your independence. Things must have naturally changed whatever government was in charge.

And India never become an 'industrial nation' and will probably, never be. Indian economy used to be mostly agriculture, and now it is mostly services, with industry being essentially flat at near 15% GDP for decades.

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