The Planning Commission has decided to prepare State Development Reports (SDRs) for all States and Union Territories of India. The objective in bringing out these reports is to provide a credible independent quality reference document on the development profile, set out strategies for accelerating the growth rate of States, lessen disparities and reduce poverty. The SDR is meant to discuss the constraints and challenges faced by a State and provide a vision, blueprint or a roadmap for its socio-economic progress. Each SDR is being prepared with the assistance of reputed expert national-level agencies, under the supervision of a Core Committee, headed by a Member of the Planning Commission, and including a senior representative of the State Government. The publication of the ""Karnataka Development Report"" follows the recently published SDRs of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh, while SDRs of many other States and Union Territories of India are under various stages of preparation. The ""Karnataka Development Report"" dwells upon the entire gamut of the State, across sections ranging from real and financial sector, regional disparities, human and social development, environmental sustainability, governance and service delivery. Karnataka's strength lies in four major areas viz, good governance (transparency and accountability), solid resources i.e., a good accumula-tion of human capital, near absence of communal conflicts and a good track record of management. The State however needs to address the stagnancy in agriculture, persisting regional disparity in respect of industrial development, income inequality, and levels of living related issues and social security. The report brings together exclusive chapters dedicated to the statement of a vision for future development in all these while also prescribing policy directions and 'drivers'.