PM Modi Calls Garibi Hatao the Biggest Jumla: Complete Analysis for UPSC & Other Competitive Exams Aspirants

Recently, PM Modi in the Lok Sabha referred to Congress party’s ‘Garibi Hatao’ slogen as the ‘biggest jumla in India’s history’ which has provoked a lot of controversies. Alright let’s break this down – and looking at it from the perspective of governance and economic policies to help you understand why this should apply to your exams.

First, what was “Garibi Hatao” all about? The slogan emerged during the 1971 elections when Indira Gandhi positioned herself as the champion of the poor. It was backed by key policies like the nationalization of banks, the 20-point program, and rural development schemes. At the time, it resonated with India’s poor majority. But here’s the critical question—did it work?

Now let’s dissect the outcomes. While some positives did emerge, like expanded rural credit through bank nationalization and agricultural advancements via the Green Revolution, poverty didn’t disappear. According to Planning Commission data, the poverty rate in the early 1970s hovered around 50%. By 1980, it reduced marginally but remained substantial. Corruption, poor implementation, and leakages in welfare schemes ensured the benefits rarely reached those most in need.

Why is Modi’s critique significant?

He’s pointing out that despite decades of Congress’s dominance and slogans like “Garibi Hatao,” the structural issues of poverty persisted. Compare this to more recent initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (financial inclusion) or Ayushman Bharat (healthcare for the poor), which focus on delivering benefits directly to citizens through technology and accountability.

For UPSC aspirants, this debate is more than a political war of words. It’s an opportunity to understand governance. Here are some points you should note:

Policy vs Implementation:

A slogan is just an idea. The real challenge lies in execution. “Garibi Hatao” sounded revolutionary, but without systemic reforms, it faltered.

Economic Context:

The 1970s saw India grappling with economic stagnation, high inflation, and global oil crises. Contrast this with the economic reforms of 1991, which marked a turning point in reducing poverty.

Current Affairs Link:

Explain how PM Modi’s policies such as PM-KISAN or Swachh Bharat are disjoint from past strategies. Are they dealing with root causes, or are they also populist in nature? Just such thinking will take your answers to a higher plane.

Finally, do not concentrate on memorizing facts. From this topic, you can develop a refined point of view for understanding the changes in governance structure in India. How do you perceive technology to be relating to policy innovation and political will in relation to poverty? This way, you’re not only boring yourself to sleep while memorizing and cramming for a test – you are preparing to grapple with some of the toughest problems in the world: building a nation.