Former U.S. President Donald Trump's remark branding india as a "dead economy" has sparked intense reactions online, with many netizens controversially agreeing. They cite visible indicators of economic distress, such as rising unemployment, increasing inflation, and deteriorating purchasing power.
While india may boast about being the world’s fastest-growing economy on paper, on the ground, a different reality is unfolding. The widespread proliferation of bike taxis, e-rickshaws, betting apps, and food delivery jobs—often hailed as signs of entrepreneurship—is now being viewed as symbols of underemployment, desperation, and lack of industrial-scale, sustainable job creation. Millions of educated youth are settling for gig work due to the lack of proper salaried employment.
Startups, once seen as India’s economic engine, are now crashing at alarming rates. With over 75,000 MSMEs shutting down in the past five years, the backbone of the indian economy is cracking. The closure of small businesses is being attributed to heavy compliance burdens like high GST, overregulation, and rising transportation costs.
The poor are hit harder, as they face crumbling local economies and poor demand. On top of this, India’s manufacturing sector—expected to rival China—has stagnated or even shrunk in many areas. Stock markets may appear bullish, but many experts warn it’s an inflated bubble driven more by speculation than real growth. Meanwhile, freebies and caste-based reservations are seen by critics as populist tools that drain public funds without building productive capacity.
Adding to the tension is the disillusionment of the youth. India’s students and aspiring professionals face bleak employment prospects. Protests by teacher aspirants, such as those seen recently in Delhi, where BJP-led police allegedly lathicharged peaceful SSC-qualified candidates demanding fair recruitment, highlight the unrest brewing beneath the surface. With lakhs of unemployed graduates and undergraduates, the country is sitting on a demographic time bomb. While the top echelons of the economy celebrate unicorns and GDP figures, the average citizen grapples with rising costs, job insecurity, and a growing sense of hopelessness. The perception that the indian economy is “dead” may be exaggerated, but for millions of Indians, it sadly feels true.
While india may boast about being the world’s fastest-growing economy on paper, on the ground, a different reality is unfolding. The widespread proliferation of bike taxis, e-rickshaws, betting apps, and food delivery jobs—often hailed as signs of entrepreneurship—is now being viewed as symbols of underemployment, desperation, and lack of industrial-scale, sustainable job creation. Millions of educated youth are settling for gig work due to the lack of proper salaried employment.
Startups, once seen as India’s economic engine, are now crashing at alarming rates. With over 75,000 MSMEs shutting down in the past five years, the backbone of the indian economy is cracking. The closure of small businesses is being attributed to heavy compliance burdens like high GST, overregulation, and rising transportation costs.
The poor are hit harder, as they face crumbling local economies and poor demand. On top of this, India’s manufacturing sector—expected to rival China—has stagnated or even shrunk in many areas. Stock markets may appear bullish, but many experts warn it’s an inflated bubble driven more by speculation than real growth. Meanwhile, freebies and caste-based reservations are seen by critics as populist tools that drain public funds without building productive capacity.
Adding to the tension is the disillusionment of the youth. India’s students and aspiring professionals face bleak employment prospects. Protests by teacher aspirants, such as those seen recently in Delhi, where BJP-led police allegedly lathicharged peaceful SSC-qualified candidates demanding fair recruitment, highlight the unrest brewing beneath the surface. With lakhs of unemployed graduates and undergraduates, the country is sitting on a demographic time bomb. While the top echelons of the economy celebrate unicorns and GDP figures, the average citizen grapples with rising costs, job insecurity, and a growing sense of hopelessness. The perception that the indian economy is “dead” may be exaggerated, but for millions of Indians, it sadly feels true.
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