The Vanishing Middle Class in Smart Cities: A State-Wise Crisis Across India
India's urban future is racing toward digitization, sustainability, and innovation—but it's leaving a crucial demographic behind: the middle class. As India's smart city mission transforms metros and Tier-2 cities with high-end infrastructure, AI-driven governance, and luxury urban lifestyles, the Indian middle class—once the backbone of the nation’s economic growth—is steadily being squeezed out. Understanding the Middle-Class Meltdown The Indian middle class is characterized by aspirations, frugality, and mobility. They are teachers, engineers, small business owners, government workers, and private-sector professionals. In smart cities, however, rising living costs, inflated real estate, and tech-driven job displacements are pushing them to the margins. The very urban renewal projects meant to "uplift" citizens are now creating invisible barriers that exclude them. Let’s explore how this phenomenon plays out across different Indian states and cities....