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India Today
03-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
India's income inequality now worse than British era, says financial analyst
India's rich and poor divide is getting deeper than ever. Hardik Joshi, a financial analyst, says it's even worse now than during British colonial times. Joshi, an economic analyst, shared strong words about this rising inequality and called for urgent action to fix the India today, discussions about income inequality have become increasingly wrote on LinkedIn, "Income inequality in India is now worse than it was under British colonial rule. Let's see some data... The top 1% hold 40.1% of India's wealth. The bottom 50% own just 6.4%. The top 10% earn over 57.7% of national income."advertisement"Half the country owns barely 6.4% of the wealth. Meanwhile, a tiny elite controls 40.1%," he added. This stark division indicates that nearly half of the population is struggling with minimal resources, in contrast to a small elite that enjoys significant wealth. Joshi notes, "These numbers aren't abstract. They mean half the country is fighting for crumbs while a tiny fraction lives in unimaginable luxury." This raises the question of why such inequality persists in a nation that produces ample blames the way the system is designed, claiming it protects those already at the top. "Because the system is designed to protect wealth at the top," Joshi explained. "Tax policies that favour the rich. Weak labour protections. Corporate consolidation that crushes small businesses. Real estate and stock market gains that mostly help those who already have capital. Political donations and lobbying that ensure reforms never threaten the wealthy."Many wonder why nothing changes. Joshi believes the powerful benefit from this gap and make sure it stays this way. 'Inequality doesn't hurt those with power — it helps them,' he pointed out that the wealthy fund elections, shape media narratives, and lobby against redistribution efforts that could threaten their wealth. Joshi points out that the wealthy have succeeded in framing assistance to the poor as mere "handouts," while they themselves benefit from subsidies and tax breaks. This manipulation of public perception helps maintain the status quo, with little pressure to address the root causes of analysis suggests that until there is genuine political will to implement reforms such as taxing wealth appropriately and investing in social services, the situation is unlikely to analyst says that unless there is real effort to tax wealth properly, protect workers, invest in healthcare and education for all, and break up big corporate monopolies, the divide will keep growing.'It's time we stopped pretending this is inevitable. It's time to ask whose interests the system really serves,' Joshi urged. As India continues to grow, the big question remains: Will this growth benefit everyone or just a lucky few?- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
1% hold 40% wealth: Financial analyst says income gap in India now worse than under British rule
India's top 1% now control 40.1% of the country's total wealth — more than what colonial elites held during British rule — while the bottom 50% of the population hold just 6.4%, according to a recent analysis by research analyst Hardik Joshi. He based his findings on data from the World Inequality Database. Comparing present-day inequality to colonial India Joshi drew comparisons between present-day inequality and the British colonial period, arguing that economic disparity has widened to levels not seen even under foreign rule. 'This is not an accident. It's policy,' he wrote in a LinkedIn post. 'Half the country is fighting for crumbs while a tiny fraction lives in unimaginable luxury.' Top 10% earn most of national income The analysis highlights that the top 10% of Indians earn 57.7% of the national income, leaving the bottom half with a much smaller share. Joshi attributed this to several factors including favorable tax laws for the wealthy, weak labor protections, and growing corporate consolidation. 'Real estate and stock market gains mostly help those who already have capital,' he said. Power and wealth remain concentrated Joshi claimed that the existing system reinforces inequality rather than correcting it. 'Inequality doesn't hurt those with power — it helps them,' he wrote. 'They fund elections. They shape the media narrative. They lobby against redistribution.' Although India's economy has been expanding, Joshi said the growth is not inclusive. He pointed out that the challenge is not the amount of wealth India generates but how it is distributed. 'We produce enough wealth. We just don't share it fairly.' Live Events Calls for urgent reforms To address the issue, Joshi urged the government to consider wealth taxes, stronger labor protections, and greater investment in healthcare and education. 'Until there's real political will,' he warned, 'this will keep getting worse.' Concluding his remarks, Joshi questioned the idea that inequality is a natural outcome. 'The system isn't broken — it's rigged,' he wrote. 'It's time we stopped pretending this is inevitable. It's time to ask whose interests the system really serves.'
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Where fresher-techies and students will stay in Bengaluru amid PG crisis, asks analyst? He gives two reasons why they are shutting down
Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, once hailed as the gateway to every aspiring techie's dreams, is quietly witnessing a housing meltdown, one that threatens the very foundation that fuels its migrant workforce. Paying Guest (PG) accommodations, long criticised for being cramped and overpriced, are now vanishing at an alarming rate. What was once dismissed as a minor real estate shift has now become a full-blown crisis, and it's not just about IT layoffs anymore. It's about survival, shelter, and the future of first-generation professionals chasing the Bengaluru dream. In a recent LinkedIn post, investment analyst Hardik Joshi drew attention to the hidden scale of the issue. According to him, PG operators across tech hubs like Mahadevapura and Marathahalli are shutting shop—two PGs are closing every single day. He added that in Mahadevapura alone, over 100 PGs have already been sealed. The immediate triggers? A combination of mass layoffs in the IT sector and strict new compliance regulations was introduced by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). 25% revenue loss PGs, which once thrived on a steady inflow of students, fresh graduates, and entry-level tech workers, are now reporting revenue losses of up to 25%. Many of these accommodations operate on razor-thin margins and cannot afford the cost of compliance or sustain empty beds caused by tenant exits post-layoffs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Vinh Phuc: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo The new BBMP norms, framed under Section 305 of the BBMP Act, 2020, have made things even harder. PGs built on roads less than 40 feet wide are being shut down. Those without trade licenses are being sealed. Perhaps most jarring is the fact that out of the thousands of PGs operating in Bengaluru, only around 2,500 are officially registered. New compliance rules by BBMP Some of the new compliance rules include mandatory CCTV cameras at all entry and exit points, a minimum of 70 square feet of living space per resident, and 135 litres of clean water per person per day. PGs that serve meals must also now obtain an FSSAI food safety license within three months of getting a trade license. Joshi's post frames the issue as more than a real estate correction—he calls it a disappearing ladder. He likened PGs to chicken coops, which were the stepping stone for students and freshers arriving in a new city with big dreams. With this affordable housing option vanishing, the city's accessibility is also eroding. He questions whether Bengaluru can continue to be India's startup and tech capital if the very infrastructure supporting its workforce is dismantled.
India Today
10-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Bengaluru's PG crisis: What's behind the mass shutdowns?
Bengaluru is facing a wave of paying guest (PG) accommodation closures, with shutdowns accelerating across the city's tech corridors. Driven by a combination of stringent new civic rules and reduced demand from laid-off tech workers, the city's once-booming PG sector is under severe stress.'In areas like Mahadevapura and Marathahalli, PGs are losing up to 25% revenue. Two PGs are shutting down every day,' said investment analyst Hardik Joshi, who investigated the issue after noticing a spike in social media chatter. 'Turns out, this is a quiet crisis affecting thousands,' he wrote in a widely read LinkedIn crackdown follows a series of regulations introduced by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) under Section 305 of the BBMP Act, 2020, last operators are now required to obtain trade licences, adhere to hygiene and fire safety standards, and provide at least 70 square feet of living space per resident. It is worth mentioning that PGs located on roads narrower than 40 feet are no longer permitted to than 100 PG kitchens were sealed in April in the Mahadevapura zone alone for violations related to town planning and licensing. Civic officials say these actions are part of a broader enforcement to the pressure, operators are now required to install CCTV cameras covering all common areas, ensure daily water supply of at least 135 litres per resident, and obtain food safety licenses if they serve meals. These requirements have driven up operational costs in a business already operating on thin Seo, secretary of the Bengaluru PG Owners' Association, told Hindustan Times that out of over 12,000 PGs in the city, only 2,500 are officially registered. 'Over 10,000 are still operating illegally without proper approvals,' she said. 'This is causing concern for investors, as BBMP can conduct raids on non-compliant properties at any time.'Once a high-yield sector offering returns as high as 6–8%, PG investments are now becoming unviable. 'Electricity is charged at commercial rates, and there are additional commercial taxes,' Seo said. 'The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has increased water charges, which are adding to the expenses. Many PG owners are now running at a loss because they can't pass on the additional costs to tenants.'The situation is a paradox for a city built on the aspirations of migrant tech workers and students. PGs, often mocked as 'chicken coops,' were essential stepping stones for thousands moving to Bengaluru. With that ladder now vanishing, questions are rising about whether the city is pricing out the very people who power its growth. advertisement
India Today
02-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Living paycheck to paycheck: Analyst says India has worst family financial planning
India's middle class works hard, saves gold for weddings, but not for retirement. They buy gold in kilos but do not have health a social media post, analyst Hardik Joshi shared some hard truths about how India's middle class thinks about money and what it often gets wrote on LinkedIn, 'We teach kids to crack IIT, but not how to file an ITR. We plan for weddings, but not for retirement. We buy gold in kilos, but don't have health insurance.' advertisement It touched a nerve as very few teach their kids how to file an income tax return or plan a Joshi shared some familiar scenerios. Beta job lag jaaye toh sab thik ho jaayega. (If the son gets a job, everything will be fine), Shaadi kar do, zimmedari samajh jaayega (Get him married, he'll become responsible), FD karwa do, safe hai (Put the money in an FD, it's safe).These aren't just random examples. This is how millions of families plan their finances—with emotion, tradition, and hope, but not the Indian culture often celebrates sacrifice and struggle. People proudly say how little they spent or how much they gave up. But we rarely talk about building sustainable this isn't just about individuals. It's a family-wide, even generation-wide issue. 'Generational trauma gets passed down, but not generational financial wisdom,' Joshi pointed out a common but dangerous mindset - one with no room for budgeting, risk awareness, or financial learning. 'No budgeting. No risk management. No financial literacy. Just vibes and blind faith,' he has to be a cultural shift. Success should be measured not just in gold or grand weddings, but in financial security and peace of emphasised that in 2025 we need to teach kids not just how to earn money but how to manage concluded his post by saying, 'Finance isn't just for the rich. It's for every middle-class family that wants to stop living pay cheque to pay cheque. Let's break the cycle.'Must Watch
