India, Jan. 8 -- To many Indians, Singapore represents the ideal of what successful development looks like. At the time of Singapore's independence in 1965, its per capita GDP was roughly four times that of India. Today, that ratio is more than 30 to one. Differences of scale matter, but scale alone cannot explain the extent of divergence. Singapore's experience offers lessons that run deeper than size or circumstance - lessons that are especially relevant as India articulates its ambition of becoming Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The most common explanation for Singapore's success focuses on what is visible: Vibrant capitalism, gleaming skyscrapers, and world-class infrastructure. In many ways, India's recent development push - particularly it...