The term “Nehruvian Consensus” refers to the set of political, economic, and social policies and principles associated with Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, and the Indian National Congress party during the early decades of India’s independence (1947-1964), and to some extent beyond.
Key features of the Nehruvian Consensus include:
- Democratic Socialism: Nehru advocated for a mixed economy with a strong public sector, state-led industrialization, and social welfare policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality. The state played a central role in economic planning, industrial development, and redistribution of resources through policies such as Five-Year Plans, land reforms, and public sector enterprises.
- Non-alignment: Nehru pursued a foreign policy of non-alignment, seeking to maintain India’s independence and autonomy in global affairs by avoiding alignment with any major power blocs during the Cold War. Non-alignment entailed maintaining friendly relations with both the Western and Eastern blocs, while advocating for disarmament, decolonization, and peaceful coexistence among nations.
- Secularism and Pluralism: Nehruvian India embraced secularism as a core principle of governance, promoting religious tolerance, communal harmony, and equal treatment of all religious communities. Nehru emphasized the importance of India’s diverse cultural heritage and pluralistic ethos, seeking to build a unified and inclusive nation based on principles of social justice, equality, and fraternity.
- Nation-building and Modernization: Nehru focused on nation-building and modernization efforts aimed at transforming India into a modern, industrialized, and self-reliant nation. His vision encompassed investments in education, science, technology, and infrastructure, as well as initiatives to promote social progress, gender equality, and cultural development.
- Democratic Institutions: Nehru upheld the importance of democratic institutions, rule of law, and constitutional governance as the foundation of India’s democratic system. He championed civil liberties, press freedom, and political pluralism, seeking to build strong democratic institutions that could withstand the challenges of a diverse and pluralistic society.
The Nehruvian Consensus reflected a broad consensus among political elites, intellectuals, and policymakers in post-independence India, emphasizing the principles of democratic socialism, non-alignment, secularism, and nation-building. While the Nehruvian era witnessed significant achievements in areas such as industrialization, education, and social development, it also faced criticisms for its perceived shortcomings, including slow economic growth, bureaucratic inefficiency, and social inequalities.
The legacy of the Nehruvian Consensus continues to influence Indian politics and policymaking, albeit with varying degrees of emphasis and interpretation over time. While subsequent governments have pursued different economic and foreign policy approaches, elements of the Nehruvian vision, such as secularism, democratic governance, and social welfare, remain integral to India’s political identity and national ethos.