‘Could take 50 years': Gurugram startup founder on India matching Japan's life
India has recently become the world's fourth-largest economy by size, but when it comes to how much the average person earns, the story changes. Gurugram-based startup founder Aashish S pointed this out in a social media post, urging people not to get carried away by big numbers.He wrote on LinkedIn, 'Celebrating vanity metrics is a futile activity. India's current per capita GDP is equivalent to Japan's in the 1950s,' He added, 'A not so perfect analogy. UP is India's 5th largest state economy. But its per capita GDP is less than 3/5th African countries.'
advertisementAshish explained that Uttar Pradesh is India's fifth-largest state economy. But its income per person is lower than that of nearly 60% of African countries.
He warned that even if Japan's growth stalls, it would still take India over two decades just to catch up in income. And to reach Japan's current quality of life? That could take 50 years.WHAT'S HOLDING INDIA BACK?According to Aashish, there are a few major factors holding India back. One of the biggest is income inequality, the gap between the rich and poor is far too wide.Another concern is the lack of proper investment in key areas like manufacturing and infrastructure, which slows down long-term growth.He also stresses that India is falling behind in STEM education, which limits our ability to compete in a modern, tech-driven world.advertisementOn top of that, India is lagging behind in STEM education — science, technology, engineering, and maths — which are critical for building a skilled workforce.Japan, on the other hand, has made great progress in city planning, healthcare, infrastructure and manufacturing, all areas where India still needs serious work, Aashish added.WHAT ABOUT GOVERNMENT SCHEMES?Aashish also questioned the real impact of big-ticket schemes like the Smart Cities Mission and Make in India. He asked, 'Is there even a single smart city yet or why has share of manufacturing being decreasing since the launch of Make in India?'His message was clear, instead of celebrating headlines, we need accountability, honest review, and course corrections.In other words, India has the scale and potential. But to match countries like Japan, it will take more than numbers. It will take planning, focus, and a strong push to improve the everyday lives of its people.Must Watch
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