(indian middle class salary crisis)

When you think of India’s middle class, what comes to mind? Probably a comfortable home, steady income, family vacations, and children studying in decent schools. But behind that image lies a quieter, more painful truth that many are unwilling to speak about — even though they live it every single day.

A recent post by a Bengaluru-based CEO has stirred emotions across social media by putting into words what millions have been feeling but couldn’t quite say. He wrote how India’s middle class is now flying just once a year — if at all — and even skipping visits to the doctor due to rising expenses. He called it exactly what it is: “Suffering in silence.”

The post resonated with thousands because it wasn’t just about money. It was about dignity, exhaustion, and the weight of expectations. It’s about a class that keeps the country running but feels like it’s running on empty.

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A Life Between Dreams and Dues

India’s middle class sits in a peculiar position. They earn too much to qualify for government subsidies, yet not enough to live without worry. Most families have two working parents, EMIs for a small flat, school fees for their kids, aging parents to care for — and very little left at the end of the month.

Take Ramesh, for example, a 38-year-old IT professional in Bengaluru. He earns ₹18 lakhs a year — a figure that might sound great on paper. But once you subtract rent, loan EMIs, school fees, healthcare costs, and daily expenses, there’s barely anything left for savings or emergencies.

“My daughter needed braces last year. We postponed it because the insurance didn’t cover it, and paying out of pocket felt too much at the time,” Ramesh says quietly. “It’s not that we’re poor. But we’re always one medical emergency away from financial panic.”

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The Social Media Filter

Part of the problem is image. Social media has created a dangerous illusion that everyone is doing better than they actually are. People still post vacation pictures, buy new phones, and dine out — but often on EMIs, credit cards, or savings they can’t really afford to spend.

There’s a silent pressure to “keep up” even when the numbers don’t add up. And that emotional toll — the stress of appearing okay while constantly worrying about money — is what many are calling the new middle-class crisis.

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No Real Voice, No Real Relief

Unlike the poor, who have government schemes, or the rich, who can lobby for favorable policies, the middle class has no real voice. Politicians don’t talk about them, companies treat them as replaceable, and even friends often assume they’re doing fine.

In reality, salary hikes have barely kept up with inflation over the past decade. Everything from rent to groceries to electricity has gone up, but most people’s paychecks have not. Meanwhile, aspirations haven’t shrunk — they’ve only grown.

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What Needs to Change?

First, it’s time we start talking honestly about this. The middle class doesn’t need sympathy — it needs acknowledgement and action. Tax reliefs, affordable healthcare, and better salary structures could go a long way. Companies need to stop overloading employees and underpaying them.

Second, we as individuals need to drop the pressure of perfection. It’s okay to not upgrade your car. It’s okay to skip the vacation. What’s not okay is sacrificing your health, your peace, or your family’s well-being to keep up an image.

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Final Thought

The Bengaluru CEO’s words hit home because they were painfully accurate. India’s middle class is not asking for luxuries. Just a life where they don’t have to choose between taking a flight and visiting a doctor. Between saving for the future and surviving the present.

It’s time we stopped calling this silent suffering “normal.”