Where the UPA’s numbers really dominate the NDA’s are in agricultural growth, however, which impacts the largest number of Indians. The NDA grew agriculture at 2.2% a year; the UPA at 3.3% a year. And, under UPA-II, the rate again accelerated – averaging 3.6% a year – two-thirds faster than the NDA managed.

The impact of higher agricultural growth and, presumably, other state measures also tell in major economic indicators of individual well-being. Private consumption grew 40% faster a year under the UPA than under the NDA. Here’s another, broader, way of looking at the same fact. Private disposable income – the amount of money left with individuals after they’ve paid taxes and so on, to do with as they please – grew, in nominal terms, 8.3% a year under the NDA. Under the UPA, it grew – wait for it – 20% a year in nominal terms. Of course, that needs inflation to be taken into account, right? Even then, if inflation was 5% under the NDA, and 7% under the UPA, that still means the NDA delivered real disposable income growth of 3% a year, and the UPA of 13% a year. A ten percentage-point difference. Nor has this trend slowed. Read More