EXAMINING SPATIAL DYNAMICS OF INFANT MORTALITY ACROSS INDIAN STATES: CONVERGENCE OR DIVERGENCE?

The development trajectory of Indian states has been a subject of significant interest and debate. Over the years, the question of whether there has been convergence or divergence in development across the states has garnered attention. This paper examines the overtime convergence in development indicators across 16 major Indian states from 1990 to 2019, particularly health status indicator like infant mortality rate. The data utilized originates from secondary sources, namely EPWRF India and RBI database encompassing per capita income, infant mortality rate and state-wise population data. The study employed sigma convergence to assess the regional disparity of economic development across the states in India. The sigma convergence reveals a consistent pattern, signifying a trend of convergence of development across the states. To further explore this phenomenon, the study introduces the disparity in the coefficient of variation (CV) of infant mortality rates between regions with higher and lower economic statuses. This results in the emergence of an inverted U-shaped curve, indicating a distinctive pattern in the convergence of development. Hence, the study indicates convergence in terms of infant mortality rate among states in India over the years, with initially disadvantaged states making progress towards reducing IMR. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, aiding them in crafting strategies that foster more balanced economic development across diverse regional landscapes.