Golf and 'fur babies'.

In September 2024, "According to the UN's tourism agency, international travel for all purposes reached 97% of its pre-pandemic level in the first quarter of 2024." "Indian travelers, in particular, are adding to this growing trend," as "Indian tourists spent US$33.3 billion in 2023, and many destinations are recognising their potential." NDTV. Unfortunately, "India's ranking on the Henley Passport Index 2025 has slipped to 85th place, a drop of five spots from its 80th position in 2024, reflecting a slight decline in the global travel mobility." TOI. A travel vlogger was disappointed with his passport. "This thing that I have, it has no value," he said in Hindi, holding up his Indian passport. "Har jagah entry denied (entry denied everywhere)." HT. "For the first time in four years, the number of Indian students heading to foreign universities has simultaneously declined across the top three destination countries - Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom." "The data show a sharp decline of at least 25% in Indian students receiving study permits across these key destinations in 2024." TIE. Australia "has launched a visa crackdown on Indians, especially from five states, including Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, UP and Bihar." ET. "India is likely to interfere in the Canadian general election on April 28, the country's spy service said." ET. "A report by the United States intelligence community has identified India and China as 'state actors' often 'directly or indirectly' enabling 'non-state actors' as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers." DH. This is one side of India, but there is another side that remains largely invisible to the rest of us. "There was a time when being born into a business family meant inheriting responsibility before wealth." "They learnt the virtues of waking up at 6 am, working 12 hours a day, snatching hurried meals, while plotting industry domination." Today, "those hands are often busy holding a golf club, a champagne flute, or on the steering wheel of a brand new Lamborghini." "Because it's risk-free, stress-free and tan-friendly," wrote industrialist Harsh Goenka. "Pampering one's pet used to be a luxury exclusive to the ultra-rich. But now affluent and middle-class urban Indians...are splurging more on their 'fur babies', fueling a boom in India's pet care industry." BBC. There are three Indias. India 1 is the top 10% or 140 million people with a per capita income of $15,000. "Two-third of the share of discretionary spending in India comes from this segment." India 2 consists of 300 million people with a per capita income of $3,000. "The emerging aspirant class, heavy consumers yet reluctant payers." India 3 consists of 1 billion people with no job security or health benefits. "And they are definitely not the ideal consumers, with almost no income at their disposal (to spend) on discretionary goods." The Wire. In February 2024, 9,26,24,661 Indians held an Indian passport. mea.gov.in. Just about 93 million. Not even all the top 140 million have passports. No matter. We don't get visas.