UN Millennium Development Goals report paints very disappointing picture of India.  It says that one third of the extreme global population lives in India. Not only that, the report also says that maximum number of under-five deaths in the world also happen in India. This comes as rude shock to those who have been boasting of India emerging as world power. Minority Affairs Minister has not minced words while commenting on the report and has clearly stated that there is nothing for us to be proud of. If after sixty-two years of independence, one – third of extremely poor people are to be found in our country, we need to put a question mark on our planning, execution and even the very philosophy of development and planning. What is there for us to be proud of when 60 per cent of Indians defecate in open and 17 per cent of global maternal deaths happen in our country. There is hardly any area in which we can claim to have reached international standard. The Minority Affairs Minister said that though our great and visionary leaders had shown the path but unfortunately we have missed it and we have squandered our energy is unproductive activities. This report is a warning to India that it should not take solace in just claiming that it is a democratic country. The taste of pudding is in eating, goes the old axiom. How our developmental schemes make an impact on the poor man, the toiler in the field or the labourer in a factory that is what will determine whether or not we are on the right path of development. We should not be wary of self criticism but should learn where we have faltered and what the way forward is.