in India, 1961-1981 Malini Karkal S lrudaya Rajan Indian experience shows that the expected trickle down effect of economic development has not taken place. In order to assess the extent and quality of improvement of life that has occurred in different sections of the population, it is necessary to use indicators other than GNP The Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) is one such indicator which is oriented to a basic needs approach. This article analyses PQLI data to provide an assessment of physical well-being of people in different states registering urbanrural and male-female differences.
