Plan Vision: Zero Poverty By 2020

By 2020, India can quadruple real per capita income and reduce poverty levels to almost zero.

It could attain a level of development higher than where China was today and be on a par with upper-middle income countries, like Argentina, Hungary and Malaysia, said the Vision 2020 document released by the Planning Commission today.

However, this depends on the country achieving a growth rate between 8.5-9 per cent over the next 20 years -- a possibility, the commission is unwilling to bet on.

"I am aware of the uncertainties of democracy. No one can make accurate predictions in the political sphere and state accurately where the country will be after 20 years. Even five years is a long time, but that should not inhibit us from thinking ahead," K C Pant, deputy chairman, Planning Commission, said while releasing the document here.

The report, prepared by a committee headed by S P Gupta, member, Planning Commission, said the country