"Third largest economy!" "Economic powerhouse!" We get it, the numbers are big.
But for most of us, does that really feel like a massive victory in their daily lives? Probably not, and here's why that headline can be misleading.

1. The sheer size of India's population – over 1.4 billion people – means that even a multi-trillion dollar economy gets divided among an enormous number of citizens. So, while our total GDP is climbing, our GDP per capita is still alarmingly low.
2. We're talking somewhere around $2,800-$3,000, while Japan's is over $33,000! That's a staggering difference in individual prosperity.

And this is where your point about the "top 5%" really hits home.

India is one of the most unequal countries in the world.

Reports like the World Inequality Report have consistently shown that the top 1% or 10% of the population holds a disproportionately massive share of the national income and wealth...read more