January 09, 2026
In Hindustan Times column, OHT’s Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan explains why Singapore’s success story is about much more than tall buildings or rapid economic growth.
When Singapore became independent in 1965, its Singapore’s per capita GDP was only about four times higher than India’s. Today, it is more than 30 times higher.
Singapore invested early and consistently in good schools, strong public healthcare, and social policies that gave people a fair start in life. These choices didn’t eliminate inequality overnight, but they helped ensure that where someone was born didn’t decide how far they could go.
Singapore’s path cannot be copied exactly by a country as large and diverse as India. But its experience offers an important reminder that real development is built on people, not just infrastructure.
If Viksit Bharat is to be more than a slogan, economic growth must go hand in hand with investments in health, education, and social well-being.
Read it here.
