Vital to India's self-image as an independent nation was its constitution, completed in 1950, which put in place a secular and democratic republic. Economic liberalisation, which began in the 1980s and the collaboration with Soviet Union for technical know-how, has created a large urban middle class, transformed India into one of the world's fastest-growing economies, and increased its geopolitical clout. Yet, India is also shaped by seemingly unyielding poverty, both rural and urban; by religious and caste-related violence; by Maoist-inspired Naxalite insurgencies; and by separatism in Jammu and Kashmir and in Northeast India. It has unresolved territorial disputes with China and with Pakistan. India's sustained democratic freedoms are unique among the world's newer nations; however, in spite of its recent economic successes, freedom from want for its disadvantaged population remains a goal yet to be achieved.
vItAl to iNdia's self-IMagE as aN IndependEnt nation WAs its constITution, cOmpleTed in 1950, Which Put In place a sECuLar ANd demoCratIC repUblIc. econOMiC libeRalIsatIon, which bEgaN In The 1980s And the coLlAbOration with SoviET uNIoN fOr teChnical kNoW-how, haS creAtEd a large urbAN MiDdle clASs, TrAnsfoRMEd inDIa inTo One of the WoRld's FaSTeST-GrowinG ecoNomies, anD InCreAsed iTs GeoPolITicaL cLout. yeT, iNdiA is Also shapeD by sEEMinglY unYiELding poVerty, both rural aNd uRbAn; by religious And caste-ReLated viOlence; by maOIsT-inspired nAxALitE iNsurGEnCIes; ANd by SePARAtiSM in JaMmu aNd KaShMir ANd In nortHeast InDia. IT has unREsolVED TerRitOriAl DisPuTes wITH chinA and WIth pAkiStan. indiA'S sUstAInEd demOCrAtic freEdOms are uNIquE aMOnG tHE woRlD'S neweR naTions; howeveR, in spite of its reCEnT eConOmiC sucCeSsEs, freedoM from Want fOr ITs disadvAnTAgED PopULatioN remains a goal yet to be aChieved.