India is the fifth largest economy in the world, with a GDP of $3.2 trillion in 2023, and we have been growing at an average rate of 7.6 per cent in the past decade. However, on closer examination, certain key indicators reveal a startling picture. India’s GDP per capita, a true indicator of a nation’s prosperity, is at $2,730 (Rs 2.3 lakh). It is much lower compared to our developing bloc peers, including Brazil ($11,350), China ($13,150), Vietnam ($4,620) and South Africa ($5,970). To look at a broader indicator of India’s holistic well-being, our social progress ranks at 110 out of 169 countries in 2022; approximately five points below the global average score. Moreover, India’s GDP per capita places the country at the 111th rank out of 164 countries assessed on social progress.For Indi...