The decline in the case of West Bengal is so dramatic that the per capita income of Bengal by 2023-24 stood at 83.7%.
It is even below that of Odisha at 88.5%.
Decades of misrule, aggressive and violent trade unionism and policy paralysis—deepened under TMC eroded the state's economic base.
Today, the state stands at 24th rank, with average incomes 16.3 per cent below the national level, marking a steep fall in GDP contribution and lost leadership. West Bengal deserves better.
The economic liberalisation of 1991 was a turning point for many states. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, once considered average performers, rose to become economic powerhouses. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, and Haryana also maintained steady growth.
In contrast, West Bengal struggled to adapt to these changes. Economist Sanjeev Sanyal, who has closely analysed West Bengal’s economic history, believes the state’s decline wasn’t solely due to external factors. He criticised former economic leaders like Ashok Mitra, Ashim Dasgupta, and Amit Mitra, not just for failing to reverse the state’s economic slide but for “actively contributing to it.”
“The long list of ‘esteemed economists’ did more harm than good,” said Sanyal (India Today).
Manufacturing and investment performance have been consistently weak. Bengal's manufacturing sector grew only 6.6 % between 2012 and 2020 compared to the all-India average of 8.6 %.
However, post-Covid it improved to about 8 per cent in West Bengal.
High population density and sluggish growth have led to weak per capita income. Bengal ranks 21st among all states, with per capita GSDP roughly 20% below India's national average.
Comparatively in 1960-61, West Bengal's per capita income was 127.5% of the national average.
Since the TMC came to power (May 20, 2011), Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth has remained below India's national average-Bengal at 4.3% versus India's 5.6% (2012-13 to 2021-22).
West Bengal's share of India's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has been shrinking continuously, decade after decade.
In 1960-61, Bengal was India's third-largest economy, contributing 10.5% to the national GDP.
By FY 2023-24, this fell to about 5.6%,
The state ranks below high-performing coastal industrial states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu in ease of doing business.
West Bengal's Human Development Index (HDI) stands at around 0.65, ranking between 22nd and 25th among states, which is well below Kerala's 0.78 and Tamil Nadu's 0.71.
From economic powerhouse to struggling state, West Bengal's fall from its prime spot in India's financial scene tells a story of lost opportunity and shifting fortunes.
The failure to adapt to changing times and harness the benefits of economic reforms has left West Bengal grappling with its diminished role in India’s economy.
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