Regional disparity
Also called: Regional imbalance, Regional variation, Regional inequality · Topic: Measuring Development: Income, HDI and Sustainability · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 1 "Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence"; Class 11, Ch 2 "Indian Economy 1950-1990"; Class 11, Ch 4 "Human Capital Formation in India"
Meaning
Regional disparity means uneven levels of income, growth, infrastructure and human development across the states or regions of a country. In India, the richer southern and western states are broadly ahead of central and eastern states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha. It matters because a strong national average can hide regions that are badly left behind. NITI Aayog's SDG India Index ranks states across the Sustainable Development Goals and helps track these gaps.
Example
In 2023-24, per capita Net State Domestic Product (state income per person) at current prices was ₹3,25,759 in Haryana and ₹60,337 in Bihar (Economic Survey 2024-25). Haryana's figure is about 5.4 times Bihar's.
Don't confuse with
- Income inequality: This is the gap between rich and poor people. Regional disparity is the gap between places, such as states or districts.