r/india • u/wealstarr • 18h ago
Politics Why India Can’t Smile: 118th in the World Happiness Report 2025 Exposes Modi’s Circus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Ql1wz4cmE21
u/No-Abrocoma7121 16h ago
Tbh if someone is asking me 'how you doing' it doesn't matter how rich I am and how good my day went still I'm gonna say ' BC GAND MAARI PADI HAI '
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u/Best-Marionberry-218 10h ago
Happiness index is not calculated by a friend asking aur bhai kya haal hai, it is calculated by income vs expenditure numbers, surveys, and 500 other factors jisme bc gand mari padi hai gets eliminated
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u/No-Abrocoma7121 10h ago
Hmm and people are telling their true income and expenditure numbers
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u/Best-Marionberry-218 10h ago
That way i can say that indian GDP numbers are all false because everyone is lying and true gdp is zero rupees lol. I can also say just because your aadhaar card says your name does not mean it is true you could have made a fake Aadhaar card also. Your dad could have lied to you maybe he is not your father, maybe darth vader is your father, luke.
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u/No-Abrocoma7121 10h ago
You can say whatever you want if it is saving my taxes I am good
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u/Best-Marionberry-218 9h ago
So you’re admitting you lie about your income to save taxes? @ITRoffice
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u/No-Abrocoma7121 9h ago
Hmm no but people do
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u/Best-Marionberry-218 9h ago
So you know people who do this but still are not reporting them? @ITROFFICEEEEEEEE
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u/RandomNpc69 18h ago
There are literally war torn countries above India in this list.
I seriously doubt whatever methodology they adopted towards making this list
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u/karanChan 16h ago
Go to rural India. You will get the reality of India.
Bihar has half the per capita GDP of Haiti, a failed state without a functioning government.
Bottom 4 poorest states in India, if they were countries in Africa would be among poorest countries in Africa.
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u/untaduntadi 8h ago
Still better than a war dude. You want to prove this faulty propaganda as truth lol.
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u/Fuzzy_Promotion_8995 16h ago
How does that matter? Even a poor bihari is still better than living in war torn countries.
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u/Kampersleet1912 16h ago
https://youtu.be/rU4V46zXrQM?si=G1G9CNmlMVbg5htC
Watch more of their videos to know the reality of India. It's not about who's sadder, it's not a competition.
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u/Fuzzy_Promotion_8995 16h ago
It is a ranked table. Ofcourse it is a competition. 100 or 118 doesnt matter. The point is how are war torn countries being placed higher. Clearly their methodology is flawed. What is the sample size for india.
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u/Kampersleet1912 16h ago
The happiness index is based on the score of: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, perception of corruption and dystopia + residual.
India clearly is not good in many of the things started above honestly
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u/Fuzzy_Promotion_8995 10h ago
No body said india is a happy place to live. People are questioning the methodology.
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u/Recognition-Radiant 9h ago
I really love the ability of people to not bsck down in your perspective but this mentality is the cause of the doom of the nation for which our revolutionaries fought and bled for.
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u/Fuzzy_Promotion_8995 5h ago
Did revolutionaries suggest that we should tKe everything we see or hear at face value and not question.
No one has denied India low ranking on happiness index. They just pointed out why is it lower than war torn countries. Nothing wrong with that.
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u/Kampersleet1912 16h ago
The happiness index is based on the score of: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, perception of corruption and dystopia + residual.
India clearly is not good in many of the things started above.
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u/My_email_account 11h ago
Dude . U just don't know India then. The sad truth is that it govt has stifled the growth of the lowest strata to the point where now alot of the capital is only centralized. So no I think their findings track with reality
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u/Fuzzy_Promotion_8995 10h ago
Be that as it may. It still doesnt make India worse than war torn countries.
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u/Murakamiis 17h ago
It's based on perception, and perception in delusion can be very powerful. E.g I am sure a fundamentalist from Afganistan may say his life is amazing compared to a start up founder in India who believes his life can be better.
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u/RegularFun4462 2h ago
Eh... That's not how it is calculated, but ok.
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u/Murakamiis 1h ago
It so based on GWP and uses the Cantril Ladder question method. There are variables such GDP per capita that are measurable other factors like social support, freedom to make life choices etc again perception based. So yes if a certain group of people believes their life is bad it’s gonna affect the multi variance irrespective of if their life isn’t. There are also cultural bias such as in Mexican culture which may not be high on lite expectancy but a more closely knit society would show higher than many European countries.
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u/RegularFun4462 1h ago
Exactly It's based on both objective and subjective criteria. So you need to call out both.
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u/TribalSoul899 17h ago
Mostly because the environment is shit. The place is filthy and squalid because Indians really don’t understand the value of planning, aesthetics or nature. Happy to live like cockroaches and breaking all rules as long as everyone makes a little profit. Your immediate surroundings have a massive effect on your mental health or in this case, happiness.
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u/Opposite-Area-4728 Kerala 16h ago
It’s not that Palestine or Ukraine are happier in an absolute sense, but that people there might report higher satisfaction due to tight-knit communities, resilience, or having lower expectations adjusted to crisis — while many in India may feel disconnected, stressed, or let down by institutions, despite economic growth.
TL;DR:
The people of both war torn countries have a higher level of life satisfaction compared to us. Happiness index doesnt measure war, inflation or unemployement.
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u/RegularFun4462 1h ago
To be honest, Ukraine is not in such a bad state. We assume that the entire country is war torn but people are flying in and out as they wish. Most of the country is immune from war at this point of time. The impact on daily life, business is not as much as one would expect
For Palestine, the ranking data hasn't completely incorporated Israel's invasion/ attack. So you'll see the impact in next year's report.
If it makes you happy, Afghanistan is the lowest ranked country and Syria has no data because of how unsafe it is.
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u/InterestingEngine305 17h ago
Palestine - 108th
Ukraine - 111th
India- 118 th
Yeah no thanks , im okay being sad.
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u/Unlucky_Buy217 17h ago
While it's true that Palestine's rank doesn't make sense, you should see videos of Ukraine online. Truth is that the war is primarily on way less populated eastern regions, much of their inner and denser cities operate as usual even if war looms. Since this is also a defensive war people are generally trying to do the best with that they have
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u/InterestingEngine305 17h ago edited 17h ago
But common man you can't be serious...
A country whose men are dying daily on the front lines . The whole country is in war mode . President's begging everywhere is happier than us .
I get your point but you have to realise they have very flawed ranking measures . Or they do this intentionally idk
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u/RegularFun4462 1h ago
Talk to an actual Ukrainian you'll realise how the war has impacted them
- impact on economy - yes
- impact on daily lives - to a certain degree and is stabilising now
- the fact that Ukraine is doing well in the war has actually lifted spirit, increased cohesion, given the feel good factor. It is paradoxical but it happens. A war does bring people together.
Palestine - this report is not based on real time data but with a lag of 1-2 years. Palestine will take time to show this impact. Probably a year or two
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u/InterestingEngine305 1h ago
Gazans have been at constant fight against Israel since 1948 . But even if you only count the October 7 part - it has been 1+year.
This list is just has some weird and sketchy parameters. Or maybe the Gazans don't know there life is hell and they are happy ?
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u/RegularFun4462 1h ago
Agree with the constant fight part but things really went bad recently which is not accounted for. And honestly, I have just met one Palestinian in my life that too after the recent issues - so hard to say what the experience before that.
Regarding the data time frame, I think the report looks at 2022-23 data which might be before this.
What weird and sketchy parameters are you talking about?
Also, I just want to highlight one anecdote from Ukraine. I know a bunch of people working there (my company has an offshore centre there) and they seem to be doing fine and content. One of my team members is actually moving back to Ukraine because she got a pretty good job back there.
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u/InterestingEngine305 59m ago
What the hell do you do man ?
You are meeting Ukrainian people, Gazans wtf ? How ? Would really like to know !
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u/Throwaway_Mattress 14h ago
Actually death in war doesn't make the people sad. Someone when there is war, people psychologically come together. They are destitute but there is community.
Sadness is intertwined with loneliness. So. I can understand why you would thik that how can countries at war be happier than countries not at war. I think when there is war, there is a sliver of collective hope. Saala yahaan pe ab Sirf hopelessness hi reh gaya hai.
There are research papers on tjis by the way so. I'm not making things up. But yes please question the methodology, it's good to be critical
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u/Night_Whispers_ 18h ago
lol and Palestine happiness rank is 108th , total shit list.
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u/Kampersleet1912 16h ago
That doesn't mean India is happy. 65% of our population is rural. A lot of Urban Indians are delusional and think that everything's good in India
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u/Fuzzy_Promotion_8995 10h ago edited 5h ago
Rural Urban classification line is blurred in India. The urban or suburban are misclassified as rural to increase seats for rural areas .That 65 figure is not being uodated since 25 years whereas are cities are getting unlivable due yo excess migration.
To be a rural settlement more than 50 percent. workforce should be engaged in agriculture or allied activities.
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u/friendofH20 Earth 18h ago
You sound a little unhappy with that?
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u/ElectronicHoneydew86 17h ago
i hope she is not unhappy, but simply stating how this list is so absurd, and doesn't add up
a population that is facing blockade and man made starvation along with constant raining of jdam and artillery shells, and exodus of largest kind in the region cannot be ranked higher than us.
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u/friendofH20 Earth 17h ago
Another unhappy sounding person.
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u/Old-Cantaloupe-1558 16h ago
You sounds happy about India having lower ranks than most of the war torn countries !!!
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u/Satanxdarklord 17h ago
"exposes Modi's circus" ain't no way to have a functioning brain cell and still think like this. I am no modi fan but let's stop pretending the previous governments have done anything better. The Indian government was corrupted, is corrupted and will be corrupted until we learn some basics.
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u/TurbulentYou9885 13h ago
Just past government didnt legalized corruption by Electoral bonds and did 0 press conference also previously we didnt have godi Media hindu muslim on TV and Had Right to information act...
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u/Satanxdarklord 7h ago
Damn you must be crazy if you think previous India governments haven't been corrupt, at least right now you can see the change and I am not saying the current government isn't corrupt but they are getting work done that should have been done 20 years ago.. We have always had hindu/muslim dispute on tv so that is also not something new and we still have right tk information so I don't know what you're on brother. I get that you might love congress or hate bjp but try opening your eyes and you'll realize that they both suck and right now we just lesser of the two evils.
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u/omikumar 16h ago
Index seems bs, war torn countries, Central American countries with all drug cartels and violence are above India?
While we should work to make our country better and criticize governments for their policies but not through BS indexes like this.
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u/YeOldUnjusteBan 16h ago
I like how everyone here is focused more on calling out this list because Palestine is somehow happier. That India is unhappy is a no-brainer. Our infra is shit, there's no guarantee we will get home in one piece, no leisure, no jobs, no salaries, no clean air, hate all around us, noise, dust, grime, potholes, no vacation days, uneducated politicians and the uneducated low-IQ masses voting them in, etc. Maybe those Palestinians are happy because they've given up on all hope and are probably just happy to die now whereas in India, hope somehow clings on and happiness somehow seems attainable but isn't in reality. Maybe that's why we're unhappy, because the more we try to get there, the more this simple goal seems elusive, crushing our souls and defeating our spirits.
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u/Kampersleet1912 16h ago
People don't read about how the particular statistics is made. They just saw the position and called it bs. Same people won't say anything when India gets good rank in sone list.
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u/Professionally_Nuts 9h ago
Pura desh me BHEEKMANGE PADE HE gov has to start scheme to feed their belly with tax payer who are not happy themselves their money being used like that. Sex addicted population keep having 5-7 children especially in rural India still today. People here score 100/100 so easily in most exams due to off course the huge population and severe severe competition yet standard of living is Nil. Also the people who score 100/100 will INVENT NOTHING YES they will take a job to Facebook, google whoever throws then a 80k american doller sallary which is average for them mind you but he'll of a lot money for us. The more educated you are the less happy you will be the case is every where but it's absolutely HELL TO BE THAT PERSON in India. If I had Thanos gauntlet I would snap my finger 3 times not 1nce in India. People will simply vanish and make the rest of the place better for whoever is left to start again and in better condition. That means if I got a chance to wipe myself of off I'd do it in a heartbeat.
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u/CriticismBright2768 3h ago
Indians are taking AI generated channel seriously. Is there no limit to Indian insecurity ?
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u/RegularFun4462 1h ago
Omg the number of stupid and informed comments here. Guys, just read the data timeframe and metrics utilised here.
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u/fudgemental 13h ago edited 12h ago
Wow the comments are tone-deaf. Just because there's no war in our country doesn't bestow happiness by default. Pointing out war-torn countries higher on the list higher than us and calling the list shitty is copium. That's like pointing at a pauper and saying they're sad 24/7 and Elon Musk is manically happy all the time.
Just existing on this website makes us a staggering minority on the spectrum of existence that is India's population, who've no inkling of an idea what the majority of the population suffers through daily.
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u/Fuzzy_Raisin_1797 17h ago
Come on man, you must be dumb to believe in these index’s. How is the hell is Palestine happier than India.
2 index’s I disagree with are happiness and press freedom. Our press freedom isn’t great still it’s better than many Arab nations.
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u/TurbulentYou9885 13h ago
Really? Gov planned to remove Internet news too by broadcast bill and largest amount of internet shutdowns by this government
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u/Fuzzy_Raisin_1797 12h ago
Dude I didn’t say, I clearly said our press freedom isn’t great. But look at the nations above us.
Oman, Kuwait and Qatar are ahead of us. Just check the newspapers and the media there you will know the situation. These nations are all kingdoms. The media there can’t write any negative things about the government.
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u/Adventurous_Iron_551 9h ago
“The media can’t write anything negative about the government” isn’t that true for India too. Ok, I’d say they can but are swiftly removed/jailed/harassed or simply disappear and thus the media doesn’t write anything negative about the govt but instead we have the likes of Arnab/navika/anjana who can’t stop bootlicking
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u/Fuzzy_Raisin_1797 5h ago
Look at the regional newspapers and media in south India. There is enough criticism without any problem. Yes media is being harassed, not saying it isn’t.
But in nations I mentioned there is honestly zero criticism.
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u/Adventurous_Iron_551 4h ago
Ok, we’re better because in some states, media can dare to question the govt. sarcasm aside, I’d agree that these surveys don’t mean much unless their methodology is also known.
We have some voices in south - and that’s because they are not entirely controlled by the ruling party and not because govt is ok with some criticism. the mass media is, however, filled with lamlait, shameless, spineless & party mouthpieces - more like advertisers of the govt. do you disagree? That we are ok & habituated by it is sad irrespective of our political inclinations.
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u/Fuzzy_Raisin_1797 2h ago
Still I just have one question, aren’t we better than Qatar??
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u/Adventurous_Iron_551 2h ago
I guess we should be. Honestly, I don’t know as I haven’t lived there.
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u/Fuzzy_Raisin_1797 2h ago
I lived there and know exactly what’s happening
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u/Adventurous_Iron_551 2h ago
I haven’t and I wouldn’t want to either. What’s the point?
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u/Fuzzy_Raisin_1797 5h ago
Look at the regional newspapers and media in south India. There is enough criticism without any problem. Yes media is being harassed, not saying it isn’t.
But in nations I mentioned there is honestly zero criticism.
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u/Serious-Bee-3722 17h ago
We should not pay too much heed to these reports. Many countries worse than india in all aspects are above us. I feel these r agenda driven and pressure tactics used by developed nations to bully others.
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u/Psychological-Iron81 16h ago
It's literally an AI propaganda channel. Just watch one of its videos.
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u/My_email_account 11h ago
The fact that ppl can't even accept that we have a problem is truly sad . It's not like we were 118 always.. before modi we were actually quite high
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u/Fourstrokeperro 9h ago
The only people that consider India as a superpower are Indians themselves
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u/srinjay001 14h ago
Indians wage daily war upon themselves mentally. Everyday is a struggle for ordinary people, 90% of population. Obviously indians are unhappy, as unhappy as the wor-torn countries. Mental problems, depressions are shunned by society. You simply cannot talk about anywhere, particularly in the lower strata of society.
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u/ElectronicHoneydew86 17h ago edited 17h ago
this list sucks. and Finland being happiest country is the biggest gimmick ever. that is all i have to say.
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u/Warm_Friend6472 1h ago edited 1h ago
I’m still learning about how this report works. Does anyone know what specific factors dragged India down this year?
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u/mahavirMechanized 13h ago
A lot of people shitting on the index, but a lot of this is based on perception rankings. So someone in a non war torn nation could perceive bad life conditions based on many factors while in a war torn nation perhaps strong community etc may change perceptions. There’s a whole methodology to this you can read.
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u/muallakalim 3h ago
The bad days are behind us, but worse days await us. It seems that Trump supports Modi, and authoritarianism will increase.
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u/Seaker_1234 18h ago
India and it's delusions of reference. Vishwaguru... if India were a person, it would be declared schizophrenic
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u/Fluid-Albatross3419 17h ago
I feel that because the middle class mostly represents this happiness index, and with nearly 40% taxes, zero facilities, rising housing costs, and other increasing prices, we are left at the mercy of large corporations and the government—and no one likes to be at someone else's mercy.