JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA

NEW DELHI

FACULTY OF LAW

TOPIC: CONCEPT OF DEVELOPMENT

Submitted by:-

Name:-

B.A.LL.B (HONS) 2ND sem.

Roll No:-

Enrollment No.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my gratitude to my subject teacher, Mr. Rasheed CA Sir, for providing
me with the opportunity to work on the project, "Concept of Development," which allowed me to
do extensive study and discover a wealth of new ideas.
In addition, I want to express my gratitude to my parents and fellow classmates for their
unwavering support.

I'm grateful.

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4

CHARACTERSTICS OF DEVELOPMENT..................................................................................4

THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT.................................................................................................6

TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT........................................................................................................7

DEVELOPMENT IN INDIAN SOCIETY.....................................................................................8

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIA AFTER INDEPENDENCE.................................8

CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
The definition of "development," according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is the process by which
something or someone develops, transforms, and advances. Development can refer to any kind of
change that occurs over time in any given situation or area. Either a progressive or regressive
development may be occurring.

It is generally understood that a "development" is "an event constituting a new stage or a

changing situation." It's implied that "development" is a positive or desired thing. "Development"
in the context of a community or socioeconomic system usually means improvement, either in
the system's overall condition or in some of its individual sections. Sociologists research
development to understand how societies change over time, what drives growth or stagnation in
those societies, and how development impacts different social groups. They look at the
underlying structures, organizations, and processes that effect growth in addition to the cultural
norms, values, and beliefs that propel society forward.

CHARACTERSTICS OF DEVELOPMENT

There are many characteristics which has been mentioned here;

 Development is a continuous process; From the very beginning of society, progress is a
continuous process. The society never stops progressing. The pace of development might
vary, sometimes accelerating and other times slowing down. It does not, however, record
a total stopping point. In nature, it never stops.1
 Development follows a pattern; Development happens in an established sequence and
following a set path. Thus, the three stages of society's growth are primitive, medieval,
and modern. The growth process of civilization cannot be accelerated by jumping ahead
or behind one level. The trend is consistently followed.2

1
Meaning and Characteristics of Development in Sociology available at:
https://www.jaspstudy.com/2023/05/Meaning-and-Characteristics-of-Development-
sociology.html#:~:text=Development%20is%20not%20limited%20to,region%20to%20region%20over
%20time.&text=As%20a%20definition%2C%20it%20can,able%20to%20achieve%20social%20progress. (Last
Modified 28 Feb, 2024).

2
Id. at 4
  Development has a direction; It follows logically from the previously mentioned fact that
development proceeds in a specific direction. There is never a backward direction—
always forward. The directionality involved in the process of development is amply
justified by August Comte's "Law of Three Stages," Herbert Spencer's theory that society
transitions from a simple to a complex one, Fernand Tonnies's theory that society moves
from community to association, Emile Durkheim's theory that society moves from
mechanical to organic solidarity, and Karl Marx's theory that society moves from a class
to a class less society. It also makes an influence on how society develops and moves
closer to adulthood.
 Development can be evolutionary or revolutionary in nature; Development is considered
to have an evolutionary quality when it happens gradually and slowly. Evolutionary
development occurs naturally throughout time and isn't very remarkable. Over time, the
effects of development start to show. Conversely, revolutionary development denotes a
sudden and swift transformation of society. A number of things, including policy
introduction, mass migration, education, and so forth, can set off a revolutionary
development. Natural evolution is characterized by rapid progress that is clearly evident.
A society's evolution from pre-modern to modern, for instance, is evolutionary;
nevertheless, a society's transformation from monarchy to democracy as a result of a
revolution is revolutionary.3
 Development is irreversible; As a process, development never looks back. It is always
forward-looking. Temporary impasses may arise, but once a civilization embarks on its
developmental journey, it is unlikely to return to its initial position. Thus, advancement is
constant throughout development.

THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT
Sociological theories are the conceptual frameworks that sociologists use to understand, explain,
and predict human behavior within the framework of social structures and processes.
3
Sociology of Development: Meaning, Scope, Examples, Theories available at:

Sociology of Development: Meaning, Scope, Examples, Theories (sociologygroup.com) (Last Modified 28, Feb
2024).
• Conflict Theory: Originally proposed by Karl Marx, this theory holds that the fundamental
element of social interaction is conflicts between groups with divergent interests. It highlights the
reality that individuals with greater wealth typically occupy positions of authority and have the
ability to shape society in order to maintain their privileges.
Because of this, it implies that conflicts resulting from power struggles are what drive societal
advancement.

• Modernization theory: Developed by American sociologist Walt Rostov in the middle of the
20th century, this theory emphasizes that industrial and economic progress are the primary
drivers of societal advancement. According to modernization theory, societies evolve as they
grow more advanced technologically, more urbanized, more industrialized, and more educated.
The "modernization gap," which refers to the variations in the stages of development between
more and less developed countries, is the main and most significant concept of this theory. The
idea holds that less developed countries can become more modern by assimilating the institutions
and practices of more developed countries, such as capitalism, democracy, and technological
innovation.

• World Systems Theory: This theory views the world as a single, capitalist global economy
with a single social structure at its core. Immanuel Wallenstein, a sociologist, created it in the
1970s. Based on their economic contributions to the global economy, countries and regions are
categorized as core, semi-peripheral, or peripheral, according to the idea. The core countries are
the most powerful economically, dominating and benefiting most from the world economy.
Peripheral nations are the economically developing countries that provide low-cost labor, raw
commodities, and markets to the core countries. They have not been very industrialized, and they
are often exploited and dependent on others.

Human Development Theory: The main objective of development, as defined by economist

Amartya Sen's groundbreaking Human Development Theory of the 1980s, is to maximize each
person's potential and freedom.4 In contrast to conventional methods that gauge growth
exclusively by economic metrics like GDP, Human growth Theory places significant emphasis
on augmenting individuals' welfare and standard of living.
4
Human Development Theory: "Human Development Theory." (Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum).
TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT
Depending on the situation and viewpoint, there are several ways to understand development.
The following are some typical forms of development:

a. Economic Development: This kind of development aims to raise a population's

standard of living and financial well-being. It includes actions like raising GDP,
enhancing infrastructure, and generating employment.5

b. Social Development: The goal of social development is to raise people's standard

of living and well-being both individually and collectively. It covers things like
social services, healthcare, education, and lowering inequality and poverty.6

c. Human Development: Human development takes into account variables like life
expectancy, health, and education in addition to economic and social indicators. It
aims to improve human talents and opportunities.7

DEVELOPMENT IN INDIAN SOCIETY

Development is a multifaceted topic with many facets in Indian civilization, including social,
environmental, and economic concerns. India has made significant progress in several
development-related sectors since gaining independence in 1947, yet it still faces many
challenges.
5
Social-Emotional Developmental Characteristics available at: https://www.amle.org/developmental-characteristics-
of-young-adolescents/ (Last Modified 1 March 8, 2024).

6
Id. at 13.

7
About Human Development available at: https://measureofamerica.org/human-development/#:~:text=Human
%20development%20is%20defined%20as,by%20economist%20Mahbub%20ul%20Haq. (Last Modified
March 1, 2024).
As soon as the oppressive British rule ended, the political elite of India started drafting plans for
development and change. Looking at a series reveals that India has experienced many ups and
downs during its tremendous evolution since winning its freedom. Following independence,
political leaders began strategizing many areas of the nation's future. They considered initiating
five-year plan schemes, realigning state boundaries, and appointing a prime minister. Even
though our country, India, was suffering from unimaginable illiteracy at the time, it was like a
newborn baby before it began to grow throughout time.

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIA AFTER

INDEPENDENCE
Below is a quick discussion of some of the most important post-independence changes in India:

a. Infrastructural development: In 1951, the Indian Railways were established. India boasts
one of the world's biggest and busiest rail systems. The company, known as Indian
Railways, has service in over 7000 stations.
b. Political development: India held its first general election in 1951, with the Congress
party taking the majority.

CONCLUSION

To sum up, "development" is the process of improving society in all its forms, including social
progress, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. It means addressing inequalities,
promoting health, and ensuring that future generations will be able to meet their needs.
Development is a complex, ongoing process that requires collaboration amongst a range of
stakeholders and comprehensive approaches in order to yield equitable and sustainable results.
REFERENCES
1 Cambridge Dictionary, available
at:https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/development
2 https://www.sociologydiscussion.com/society/development-meaning-and-concept-of-
development/688
3 Sociology of Development: Meaning, Scope, Examples, Theories (sociologygroup.com)
4 https://www.amle.org/developmental-characteristics-of-young-adolescents/

5
6 https://measureofamerica.org/human
development/#:~:text=Human%20development%20is%20defined%20as,by%20economist%20Mahbub
%20ul%20Haq.