Though, India attained self-sufficiency in food production, it remained an agriculture economy as 65% population was still engaged in agriculture 1990. Industrial and service sectors could not absorb the extra workforce engaged in agriculture.
Industrial base become diversified and also attained high growth rate of 6%. It provided new investment and employment opportunities, especially for SSI. However, policy of import substitution and reservation of production badly affected the quality of the goods produced. Growth of private sector was hindered by license policy and reservation of industries for public sector.
India GDP growth was merely around 4%, often termed as Hindu Growth Rate (Coined by Raj Krishna). Share of Industrial Sector in GDP increased from 11.8% to 24.6%.
India failed to promote export oriented industries, resulting in foreign exchange crisis in 1990. The crisis forced India to adopt a more comprehensive Economic Policy in 1991 which focused on Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization.
