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Research by Sidheswar Jena, PhD Scholar in Law

Abstract

India today stands at a strange crossroad. On one side, it has billionaires, global recognition, and young talent leading the world’s top companies. On the other, the government still provides free ration to 80 crore people every month (PMGKAY, 2024). After 79 years of independence, this raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: Is India really a poor country to live in? This paper does not look at poverty only as lack of money, but also as absence of dignity, fairness, and systemic accountability.

Keywords

India, Poverty, Governance, Education System, Migration, Corruption, Public Policy, Welfare Schemes

Introduction

When we speak of poverty, we often think in terms of hunger or unemployment. But in India, poverty is also about the daily experience of living. It is about buying a house worth ₹25 crore in Bandra and still driving through pothole-filled roads, spending hours in traffic, and breathing toxic air. It is about waiting ten years in court for a simple case to close. It is about education that charges lakhs of rupees in fees but produces graduates who shine only when they leave the country.

This paper reflects on six major reasons why India struggles with the tag of being a “poor country to live in” — not poor in money, but poor in system.

1. Feeding 80 Crore People: A Sign of Strength or a National Failure?

India operates the world’s largest free food distribution program. As of January 2024, over 80 crore citizens continue to receive free food grains every month under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) (NDTV, 2024). Governments project this as success; however, it highlights systemic weakness.

Out of a population of 1.4 billion, only 10.41 crore citizens filed income tax returns in 2023-24 (Times of India, 2024). This means less than 8% of the population sustains the entire welfare net. Feeding citizens should be a safety net, not a permanent identity of the nation. The fact that nearly half the population still depends on free ration after almost eight decades of independence is not achievement — it is a national failure.

2. Infrastructure: Private Luxury, Public Neglect

Take Mumbai as an example. Someone buys a ₹25 crore flat in Bandra, but outside the gates lie potholes, traffic jams, waterlogging, and unbreathable air. Despite India’s booming private wealth — with over 4.68 lakh taxpayers declaring income above ₹1 crore in FY 2024-25 (LiveMint, 2025) — the public infrastructure does not reflect this prosperity.

Unlike in developed countries, where taxation ensures reliable public services, in India citizens often question: Where does the tax money go?

3. Universities Without Global Standing

India has more than 1,000 universities and 40,000 colleges, yet very few appear in global rankings. The reasons include:

               •             Education dominated by private players run for profit.

               •             Research and innovation severely underfunded.

               •             Outdated syllabi and political interference.

Instead of producing innovators, the system often produces degree-holders with little global competitiveness. This is why Indian graduates succeed abroad but struggle to find equal opportunities at home.

4. Migration: Searching for Dignity, Not Just Money

Every year, lakhs of Indians leave for countries like the US, Canada, and Australia. While salaries play a role, the deeper motivation is quality of life: clean air, safe drinking water, reliable public transport, and a justice system that works on time.

When even India’s wealthy residents cannot escape pollution, traffic, or delayed justice, migration becomes less about money and more about dignity.

5. Education and the Politics of History

Another weakness lies in the politicization of education. Governments often rewrite history textbooks to suit their ideology, sometimes erasing or altering narratives around figures like Maharana Pratap. Instead of focusing on science, technology, and future-oriented studies, education becomes a tool of politics.

This not only compromises objectivity but also distracts from innovation and research. The result: students are skilled at memorizing facts but are not prepared for the future.

6. Corruption: The Daily Tax

India’s position in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index slipped from 93rd in 2023 (score 39) (The Hindu, 2024) to 96th in 2024 (score 38) (Business Standard, 2025). For citizens, these rankings only confirm lived experience. Corruption functions as a daily tax:

               •             Bribes for ration cards and driving licenses.

               •             Delays in courts.

               •             Favoritism in government contracts.

This corrodes trust and discourages both entrepreneurship and innovation.

Conclusion

So, is India really a poor country to live in? Not in terms of wealth or talent — India has both in abundance. But in terms of governance, fairness, and dignity of life, India remains poor.

Feeding 80 crore people after nearly 79 years of independence is not an achievement, it is evidence of systemic failure. Billionaires living on broken roads show that private wealth cannot compensate for public inefficiency. Politicized education erases history instead of building the future. And corruption functions as a permanent burden on citizens.

For India to truly rise, it must go beyond welfare politics and slogans. Real change requires governance reform, depoliticized education, honest infrastructure investment, and a culture of accountability. Only then can India stop being a land of unfulfilled potential and become a country where citizens live with dignity.

References

Business Standard (2025). India ranks 96 out of 180 countries in Corruption Perceptions Index 2024. Retrieved from: Business Standard

NDTV (2024). Over 80 crore people getting free foodgrains benefits under PMGKAY. Retrieved from: NDTV

Times of India (2024). No. of taxpayers rises 82% to 10.4 cr in last 9 years: CBDT. Retrieved from: TOI

LiveMint (2025). Over 4.68 lakh taxpayers file ITR for income over ₹1 crore till Feb 28. Retrieved from: LiveMint

The Hindu (2024). India ranks 93 out of 180 countries in Corruption Perceptions Index 2023. Retrieved from: The Hindu