"Employment, people's income should rise as well...": Aaditya Thackeray as India ranked 4th largest economy

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 25 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday took a swipe at the Centre after India was ranked the fourth-largest economy in the world. He said that while it is a good sign that the country's economy is growing, the government must ensure that this growth also results in increased employment and income for the people.
Speaking to reporters, Aaditya Thackeray said, "It is good that our economy is growing, but along with that, there should be a rise in employment and people's income. Along with that, the people's happiness should also increase."

He went on to say that inflation and unemployment remain two of the biggest problems in the country and questioned the government's seriousness in dealing with them.
"This is because the biggest problems in this country today are inflation and unemployment, and it is hard to tell if the government is serious about these issues. This is because if you ask anyone in the government about this and ask what should be done, they say "bhajiya talo" (fry pakoras)," he added.
Congress leader Pawan Khera also raised concerns about whether the economic growth is truly reaching the people. He said the real question is how much progress the common people have made.
Speaking with ANI, Pawan Khera said, "Let's talk a little about per capita income, the growing gap between the rich and the poor, the middle class struggling to pay EMIs, the MSME sector, unemployment breaking a 45-year record... Let's talk about the middle class. Ask citizens how much progress they have made."
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha also questioned how becoming the world's fourth-largest economy translates into real benefits for ordinary citizens who still struggle with hunger and low incomes.
The RJD MP said, "The common citizen understands the economy better when progress and prosperity reach every home. What will happen to the hunger index? Where are we on the inclusive growth index? Why is income inequality increasing so much? All these things should happen simultaneously."
The reactions come a day after NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) BVR Subrahmanyam said that India has overtaken Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, citing data by the International Monetary Fund.
Addressing a press conference of the 10th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting on 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat 2047', Subrahmanyam stated that India's economy has reached the USD 4 trillion mark.
According to the IMF's April edition of the World Economic Outlook report, the nominal GDP for fiscal 2026 is expected to reach around USD 4,187.017 billion. This is marginally more than the likely GDP of Japan, which is estimated at USD 4,186.431 billion.
India was the fifth-largest economy in the world till 2024.
The global financial body projects that India will remain the fastest-growing major economy over the next two years.
India's economy is expected to grow by 6.2 per cent in 2025 and 6.3 per cent in 2026, maintaining a solid lead over global and regional peers, the April 2025 edition of the IMF's World Economic Outlook added.
India is projected to remain the fastest-growing large economy for 2025 and 2026, reaffirming its dominance in the global economic landscape.
In contrast, the IMF projects global economic growth to be much lower, at 2.8 per cent in 2025 and 3.0 per cent in 2026, highlighting India's exceptional outperformance.
NITI Aayog CEO further stated that India is at a turning point and at a take-off stage where it can grow very rapidly. (ANI)