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This two-volume survey in economic geography conducted by the Indian Council of Social Science Research aims to understand spatial organization vis-Ç-vis socio-economic development. Within this framework, the survey evaluates India´s economic growth, presently centered on the system of relatively few large cities in the midst of innumerable villages and small towns. It underlines the need to reverse the dominant concentration of economic activity around urban
centers, and to integrate the development of small towns and villages.

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The Survey of Research and Explorations in Geography is a part of a series of exercises initiated by the ICSSR since 1969, covering various social science disciplines. The thematic focus of the current survey, and therefore of the present set of the resultant two volumes, are on economic geography, which aims to understand spatial organization vis-Ç-vis socio-economic development. Within this framework, the survey evaluates India´s economic growth,
presently centered on the system of relatively few large cities in the midst of innumerable villages and small towns. The survey underlines the need to reverse the dominant concentration of economic activity around urban centers, and to integrate the development of small towns and villages. It maintains that this
would lead to diversification of employment, infrastructure, and provision of social facilities and amenities for the non-urban regions. In addition, the survey points out gaps in research and training and possible improvement areas. A comprehensive review and assessment of the scholarly contributions made in the field of economic geography during the period 2003-2009, this authoritative survey will be an invaluable resource for scholars and students of geography, economics, development
studies, public policy, politics, and sociology.

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The Late L.S. Bhat was formerly Professor, Geography and Regional Planning, Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi.

H.S. Sharma was formerly Professor of Geography, Rajasthan University, Jaipur.

M.H. Qureshi was formerly Professor of Geography, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

H. Ramachandran is Professor, Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, New Delhi.

R.N. Vyas was formerly Professor, Department of Geography, M.L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur.

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