Goa, Sept. 1 -- SIDDHARTH DESAI

India's growth trajectory is entering a decisive, consumption-led phase. While the previous decade focused on poverty reduction and production capacity, the coming decade will belong to discretionary spending. According to a report by NIQ (NielsenIQ) and World Data Lab, India is projected to house the world's sec ond-largest affluent consumer base within the next decade, surpassing Chi na and trailing only the United States. By the mid-2030s, an estimated 10.8 crore (108 million) Indians are expect ed to possess Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) spending capacity exceeding $90 per day. In contrast, China-despite boasting an economy nearly five times larger in nominal terms-is projected to hold roughly 10.3 cro...