India, March 31 -- East India tops HDFC Life index in financial smarts, emergency readiness

East India outshines the national average in financial realism and preparedness, according to HDFC Life's Ready for Life Index (RLI) 2025. The Ipsos India study, based on 1,836 face-to-face interviews across metros, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, measures readiness on four pillars: financial planning, emergency preparedness, health & well-being, and retirement strategy.

Nationally, there's a 26-point gap between perceived and actual readiness - but the East narrows it to 20 points, signaling sharper financial discipline.

"East India is more grounded in assessing readiness, especially in emergencies and health," said Vineet Arora. "Yet retirement plan...