India’s GDP stands at $4.19 trillion as of April 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund. Growing at a steady pace of 6.2%, it’s expected to retain its position as the fastest-growing major economy this year. With this trajectory, India is set to surpass Japan and become the 4th largest economy, and if this growth rate sustains, the 3rd largest isn’t far off either.
It’s been a long journey, from being the 10th largest economy in 2014 to knocking on the door of the top 3 in 2025. A lot has changed. Infrastructure has improved. GDP growth has been consistent and impressive. But as always, the devil lies in the details.
No, the issue isn’t about per capita GDP or income, it can be a misleading parameter for literally the most populous country in the world. There are simpler, more visible indicators that reflect the actual economic strength of a nation. Let’s take public transport, for instance,specifically, railways. On one side, we have semi-high-speed trains like Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat (Delhi-Meerut RRTS), metro rail expanding in over 25 cities, and stations getting a long-overdue facelift. But on the other hand, we still struggle with something as basic as train frequency. No data is needed, just try booking a Tatkal ticket and watch the waiting list climb. Long-distance travellers are often inconvenienced by local commuters boarding mid-journey, a problem worsened by the lack of dedicated local trains in many regions.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, our flagship high-speed rail project, won’t be operational until 2030. Meanwhile, China already boasts over 45,000 km of high-speed rail. So yes, India might soon be the third-largest economy, but in terms of development parity, we still trail significantly, especially behind China. Public transport is a powerful indicator of real development. It shows how easily people can commute, how much time and fuel is saved, how economic opportunities spread. It minimizes disparity and brings people together. India’s issue is not only the pace of development, it is also about the false sense of accomplishment for smaller milestones.
Defence and space? Those are areas where we’re faring much better. India has demonstrated its military strength decisively in the recent conflict with Pakistan. Our air superiority and air defence are literally one sided, and moreover we can own the enemy in a few hours if we decide. It was all visible during the conflict. In space, we may still be behind the U.S. Russia, and China, but we lead much of the rest of the world and are progressing steadily.
However, challenges like urban-rural divides, water scarcity, underdeveloped agriculture, and untapped tourism potential remain pressing. So yes, we’re about to be the 4th largest economy—but we still have a lot to catch up on. We need to connect our rivers, irrigate more fields, move beyond freebies, and ensure that everyone gets a seat—on a bus, on a train, in an educational institute, or at the workplace.
Education, Healthcare and Civil Safety – we all know where do we exactly stand here. Not too critical and not too praiseworthy. Education is surely a big issue. Free Education is not worth employment and the quality education costs lifetime savings. Healthcare as well, is certainly not at a level it should be for the fourth largest economy.
Time is short. We have miles to go. And the first thing we must unlearn is our tendency to over-celebrate small wins. True leadership—a real Vishwaguru—is earned only when access, quality, and excellence reach every corner, for every citizen. It may sound idealistic, but it isn’t impossible
Warm Regards,
Dnyanesh Make “The DPM”
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