India’s journey towards economic growth is often talked about with optimism. Yet, the conversation is typically centred around the challenge of rising income inequality, commonly referred to as the “K-shaped recovery”(a post-pandemic trend where the wealthy recover quickly while the poor stagnate or decline). But a recently released government survey, the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23, challenges this narrative, suggesting that when it comes to actu