By  Dr. Farzeen Bano Syllabus Unit -1 An Economic History of the Constitution of India 1. Constitution as an Economic Document The Constitution of India is not only a political and legal text but also an important economic document . It reflects the socio-economic conditions of post-colonial India and lays down the framework for economic governance, distribution of resources, social justice, and state intervention in the economy. At the time of independence, India faced: Widespread poverty and inequality:  A vast majority of the Indian population lived below subsistence level. Wealth and resources were concentrated in the hands of a few, while large sections of society—especially peasants, workers, Dalits, women, and tribal communities—remained economically marginalized. Agrarian distress and land concentration:  Agriculture was the primary source of livelihood, yet it suffered from zamindari and intermediary systems , unequal land ownership, low productivity, indebtednes...