India fourth largest economy: As India celebrates a major economic milestone—surpassing Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy with a GDP of $4 trillion—not everyone is joining in the applause. Hotmail co-founder and tech entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia has sparked a national conversation by questioning the real-world impact of this growth on ordinary citizens.
“We overtook Japan in GDP… but can you feel it in your pocket? Growth without distribution is just inflation in disguise,” Bhatia posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Focus on people, not just numbers
Bhatia describes his remarks as “positive criticism,” not cynicism. “I love India and I love each and every one of you,” he said in a post. “I want to see an India that improves the lives of all its citizens, especially those at the bottom of the pyramid. If we can change their lives, all the other numbers will take care of themselves.”
He argues that real progress lies in mass education and empowering people through critical thinking. “Just mass educate the entire population of the country. Today, that is possible with the help of AI. But if we stick to rote learning, memorisation, and chasing exam scores, that is completely useless.”
We overtook Japan in GDP……but can you feel it in your pocket?
— Sabeer Bhatia (@sabeer) May 28, 2025
Growth without distribution is just inflation in disguise. pic.twitter.com/mwZEVV7hcf
“Where’s the prosperity?”
In a series of candid social media posts, Bhatia expressed concern that the glowing GDP figures do not reflect the day-to-day realities of most Indians. “Everyone’s gloating about India becoming the 4th largest economy. But where’s the prosperity on the streets? Why are so many still desperate to leave?” he asked.
Bhatia believes GDP rankings are meaningless if they don’t result in better lives for citizens. “The only numbers you and I should be even talking about are GDP per capita and median GDP per capita,” he said. He also acknowledged receiving backlash online for his stance.
India’s people, its greatest asset
Bhatia urges a shift from traditional, exam-based education to a system that fosters innovation, creativity, and intellectual property development. “India’s greatest asset is her people. Instead of celebrating GDP numbers, we should focus on educating our citizens and transforming India into the IP capital of the world.”
What the government said?
Meanwhile, the Indian government views the GDP milestone as a sign of economic strength. NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam recently announced that India has officially become a $4 trillion economy. “It is only the US, China, and Germany which are larger than India,” he said, adding that the country could become the third-largest economy in the world within 2.5 to 3 years, if current plans stay on course.