Is India's consumption story powering growth or hiding risks?

Is India's consumption story powering growth or hiding risks?

Author: The Hindu August 3, 2026 Duration: 36:20
What is the driving force of any economy? It is you and me! It’s the money we work so hard to earn and have fun spending. In fact, private consumption accounts for nearly 61.5% of India's GDP. Last year alone, consumer spending grew by 7.7%.  This makes households one of the biggest contributors to India’s growth story.  Meanwhile, household debt has climbed to 45.5% of GDP, with unsecured loans rising compared to home loans.  Indians are moving away from bank deposits and entering stock markets, either through mutual funds or in equities, like never before. With 93% of the growth in India's urban consumer class is expected from non-metros by 2040, how are Indians changing the way they save, borrow and spend?  Are these signs that India is becoming a mature consumption-driven economy, or a warning sign for policymakers?  (The views expressed are strictly personal) Guest: Prof. Smita Roy Trivedi, National Institute of Bank Management Host: Nivedita V Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each week, the journalists at In Focus by The Hindu select one pressing story from the news cycle and slow it down. Rather than a rapid headline, you’ll hear a thoughtful conversation that unpacks the layers behind an event-the historical precedents, the economic forces, the political nuances, and the human impact. This podcast relies on conversations with reporters who have been on the ground and specialists who have spent years, sometimes decades, studying a particular issue. The result is a clearer, more substantive understanding of what’s happening in India and around the world. You might explore the roots of a regional conflict one episode, and dive into the complexities of a new environmental policy the next. It’s designed for anyone who feels that the daily news skim leaves too many questions unanswered. Tune in for a consistent, deep-dive format that prioritizes context over instant reaction, making sense of the week’s most significant developments through careful analysis and expert insight.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

In Focus by The Hindu
Podcast Episodes
Bonus episode: How the UAE projects power across the Gulf and beyond [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:21
In this special bonus episode at In Focus we have a special crossover episode featuring the Hindu's Global Faultlines podcast with Sharmada Venkatasubramanian and Stanly Johny. The UAE has emerged as one of the most infl…
Does the BRICS summit signify a shift for Indian foreign policy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:13
With a strong pushback against unilateral western sanctions; criticism of Israel over the killing of civilians, the attacks on Lebanon, and the forced occupation of Palestinian territory; and support for United Nations r…
Saving the Western Ghats | Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:19
The Western Ghats in India is a mountain range that is considered next only to the Himalayas in terms of being a biological treasure trove with a high degree of endemism and scenic beauty. It has also been declared as on…
Is BRICS coming of age? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:32
The recent BRICS summit in New Delhi, held under India’s presidency, brought together an expanded grouping at a time of major geopolitical and economic shifts. The summit sought to deepen cooperation among its members wh…
Iran takes escalation dominance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:29
The Iran war has entered another dangerous phase, with the confrontation between Tehran and Washington increasingly spilling into the Persian Gulf. Iran has stepped up attacks on shipping around the Strait of Hormuz, whi…
Should the use of Gen AI be banned among younger students in schools? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:30
Recently, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a one-year moratorium on generative AI tools for public school students through Class 8 for the 2026-27 academic year. Officials argued that young children require h…