The Social Architecture of Viksit Bharat@2047: Stratification, Capability Expansion and Economic Security in an Unequal Society

Abstract

The vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 represents not merely an aspiration for economic advancement but a broader project of societal transformation in which development becomes equitable, participatory and socially sustainable. This chapter examines the social architecture of Viksit Bharat@2047 through the interconnected dimensions of social stratification, capability expansion and economic security, arguing that a developed India must be evaluated through the distribution of opportunities, resources, agency and life chances across socially differentiated populations. Drawing upon the Capability Approach, social stratification theory, social exclusion, intersectionality and social citizenship, it examines how caste, class, gender, region, occupation, informality and unequal access to financial and digital resources shape developmental participation. The chapter further explores financial inclusion, Digital Public Infrastructure, livelihood opportunities, social security institutions and welfare mechanisms as instruments for strengthening the resilience and agency of vulnerable populations, while recognising that technological and institutional innovations may reproduce inequalities when capabilities and institutional access remain uneven. It argues that economic advancement becomes socially transformative only when citizens can convert opportunities into secure livelihoods, social mobility, autonomy and dignified participation. Economic security is therefore conceptualised as a fundamental dimension of social citizenship, rather than a residual welfare concern. Ultimately, the chapter argues that the sociological success of Viksit Bharat@2047 depends upon expanding capabilities, reducing structural disadvantage and enabling diverse social groups to participate meaningfully in India's shared prosperity.