Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said India must change its development model to prioritize environmental protection [1].
The call for a systemic shift comes as nations struggle to balance industrial growth with the urgent need to mitigate global warming and resource exploitation. By advocating for a nature-harmonious growth model, Bhagwat suggests that India can provide a sustainable alternative to traditional industrialization paths.
Speaking in New Delhi on Thursday, Bhagwat said that the world needs India's path of development [1]. He said that the current global climate crisis requires a departure from models that rely on the heavy exploitation of natural resources [1].
According to Bhagwat, the transition is necessary to address the ongoing threats of global warming [1]. He said that "India’s time has come" to lead this change and offer a blueprint for other nations to follow [1].
Bhagwat said the world needs India’s model of development [1]. He said that a model emphasizing harmony with nature could serve as a solution to the environmental degradation seen in other developed economies [1].
The RSS chief's remarks align with broader discussions regarding the sustainability of rapid economic expansion. He said that India's unique cultural and social approach to nature could inform a new global standard for progress [1].
“"India’s time has come"”
This call for a new development model reflects an effort to integrate traditional Indian values of environmental stewardship with modern economic goals. If adopted, such a shift would signal a move away from the Western-led industrial paradigm, positioning India not just as a growing economy, but as a normative leader in global climate policy and sustainable growth.
