Let us say the real estate tycoons, startup unicorn founders, or Bollywood stars living in ₹30 crore bungalows. But here is the surprise: if you earn an annual income of ₹2.9 lakh about ₹24,000 per month you are already among the richest 10% of Indians. And to the top 1% of earners, one must be congratulated for their income of about ₹20.7 lakh a year.
This data is startling, almost completely turning the popular narrative about who is really rich in India on its head. Because while the headlines are full of billionaire victories, the rest of the Indians earn so little that many of their so-called “middle-class positions” are visited by privilege in rare instances.
Most Indians Earn Shockingly Little
The most recent income distribution data reveals an uncomfortable truth: an average Indian earns much less than we would normally think. According to the World Inequality Database, 90% earn less than ₹2.9 lakh annually.
Let’s elaborate.
An employee in the call center at a Tier 1 city might not feel rich, and yet he belongs to the elite few in the country. On the other hand, over 90% of the population exists below this level. Many family units in rural India earn less than ₹10,000 every month, with five or more members to support and no access to clean water, preferable healthcare, or education. A 1BHK flat in Tier 1 cities couldn’t even be rented for this amount. This is not merely an economic divide; it is psychological. We are rich, but we just don’t know it.
Do You Earn ₹20.7 Lakh a Year? You’re in the Top 1%
Exactly. One is considered amongst the richest 1% of India if they earn at least ₹1.7 lakhs monthly, a figure often surprising to software engineers and bankers who are busy comparing themselves with peers buying the latest gadgets or investing in luxury apartments.
Also Read; India Bids for 2030 Commonwealth Games – A Strategic Move for Future Olympics
And, yet, the figures do not lie. This is how restrictive the path to elite wealth is at least when we talk about the income side of things. While wealth considers property, investments, land, and gold, the divide becomes more pronounced.
The Richest 1% Control Almost 40% of India’s Wealth
The top 1% control almost 40% of the wealth in the country, says the report of Oxfam India, 2025. In contrast, the bottom 50% of the population (700 million plus) own barely 6.4% of the wealth.
This is not a wealth pyramid. It’s a needle-thin spike.
There are structural factors behind inequality. The top 1% enjoy generational wealth, land inheritance, business monopolies, political access, and elite education. Many of them do not just earn more but also own the systems that allow for making more.
With the growing Indian economy, the money is increasingly coalescing at the very top. The rich are growing richer while the poor are being shut out of everything from housing to higher education.
Super-Rich Homes vs. Pizza Dreams
Half of Indians dream of affording a pizza or a pair of school shoes for their kids, while the super-rich buy sea-facing penthouses for ₹30 crores or so, collect luxury watches, and have three holidays in Europe every year.
In Mumbai’s posh Worli and Bandra neighborhoods, entire floors of skyscrapers are bought in cash. Some houses cost more than entire villages; meanwhile, millions across India live in one-room chawls or kutcha houses with no bathroom and no source of potable water.
In urban India, the contrast is in-your-face. A luxury car halts at the traffic light while a barefoot kid sells roses. Coffee is sipped for ₹700 when a delivery boy is paid ₹300 for 18 hours of work.
The divide runs much deeper than just economically—it is entirely emotional. It’s about what you want out of life.
The “Middle Class” Myth
In India, the so-called middle class is usually seen as struggling in some way. And with the rise in inflation, housing costs, and unstable jobs, there seems to be some truth to that. In reality, many self-declared middle-class Indians come in the top 10 or even 5% of earners.
If your household owns a car, a refrigerator, has two smartphones, and goes out for dinner once in a while, you are not average by Indian standards. You are elite.
The problem is one of perception. People compare themselves with those above them: the ultra-rich in their Lamborghinis, the Instagramlets in Bali, and startup guys just getting started with millions in funding. But rarely do they look down the ladder where most of the population earns in a year what a good urban professional spends in a week.
Who Is Truly Poor?
It is not merely about money. It is about access. The poorest are not those who earn little. They are denied education, health care, clean water, stable jobs, and even justice. Many hail from marginalized communities: Dalits, Adivasis, landless laborers, single women, and migrant workers.
Caste and class intersect sometimes. Income-wise, Dalit families earn less on average as against upper-caste families. Women earn less than men for the same work. Informal workers numbering in millions constitute over 80% of the workforce in India who are deprived of any social security or means of saving.
These statistics are not economic ones. These represent those persons who are hungry and helpless with dreams unfulfilled.
Rich in Rupees, Poor in Mindset?
Interestingly, many wealthy Indians are insecure. They feel that they are “just getting by” with the payment of EMIs, tuition, and social pressure to show success.
This is also a trap of wealth inequality because the very richest 0.01% set paralyzingly unrealistic standards. Social media creates the same illusion of luxury, which brings anyone in the top 1% down to feel poor. But it’s a mere illusion.
True poverty is not about choosing between two iPhones; it’s about choosing to pay rent or buy food.
Rethinking What It Means to Be Rich
So, who is really rich? Not just the billionaire sitting in his private plane. Also, the salaried couple in the ₹3 crore flat, with mutual funds, cars, and overseas holidays.
Not just the Indian actress with a Gucci bag. Also, a mid-level manager with two degrees, private health insurance, and parents who bought land for the home 20 years ago.
They do not really see themselves as rich. But in India, they are.
And that is the point. Until we recognize our relative privilege, we shall continue to downplay the problem of inequality and ignore the responsibility that comes with wealth.
India’s Wealth Divide Isn’t Just Numbers, It’s a Mirror
The idea that “everyone is struggling” is just a dilution of the truth. Most Indians are not buying iPhones or debating sushi vs. biryani. They are saving to buy a school uniform, beating medical bills, or praying for a decent job.
It is only to awaken consciousness, not to shame anyone.
Because when even the upper 10% begin to perceive themselves to be “average,” then policies that should truly speak for the poor are not made. When the richest 1% make the rules, that is when democracy really begins to falter.
So the next time someone tells you, “I am not rich,” ask, “Compared to whom?”
The Real Wealth Is Not in Crores, But In Naam
Kabir Saheb ji beautifully explained the real essence of wealth in His teachings. True wealth lies in devotion, simplicity, and connection with the divine. Material possessions and worldly affluence may offer temporary comfort, but they do not provide eternal peace or spiritual fulfillment. The real treasure is in the Naam (divine name) and the devotion to the Supreme God, which elevates the soul beyond the illusions of materialism.
As Tatavdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj often emphasizes, human life is meant for devotion, and true wealth comes from realizing one’s connection with the Creator. Kabir Ji’s teachings suggest that accumulating worldly possessions is not the ultimate goal. Instead, it is the accumulation of spiritual wisdom, devotion, and connection to the divine that leads to lasting wealth.
In the modern world, the definition of richness should not be confined to money alone. It is about realizing what truly matters – inner peace, spiritual growth, and the understanding that wealth without virtue is hollow. When we begin to see wealth in a spiritual context, we realize that every person has the potential to be rich, not just materially, but in the true sense of the word.
This article reveals the stark realities of India’s wealth divide and challenges commonly held perceptions about who is truly rich. The wealth gap is not just a matter of income; it is about access, opportunity, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be “rich” in a spiritual and material sense.
FAQs
1. What defines the wealthiest 1% in India?
The wealthiest 1% in India are those earning around ₹20.7 lakh annually or more. This puts them in the top bracket of income earners, reflecting the steep income inequality in the country.
2. How does the wealth divide in India impact social mobility?
The wealth divide in India restricts social mobility as those born into affluent families have better access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, leaving those from poorer backgrounds at a significant disadvantage.
3. Is the middle class in India truly struggling?
Many consider themselves middle class, but in reality, individuals with an income as low as ₹24,000/month belong to the top 10% of earners in India. The middle class often compares itself to the ultra-rich, creating a sense of struggle even though many are still part of the privileged few.
4. What does true wealth mean, according to Kabir Ji?
True wealth, as described by Kabir Ji, is not about material possessions but about devotion, spiritual connection, and understanding the divine. Wealth in the material world is fleeting, but spiritual wealth is everlasting.
5. How can we bridge the wealth gap in India?
Bridging the wealth gap requires systemic changes in education, healthcare, job opportunities, and fair wages. It also involves shifting societal perceptions to recognize and address inequalities that affect the poorest sections of the population.
