evidence: Did India become richer or poorer during the UPA years? And how does the Modi government compare? At first, it may seem difficult to compare across different eras. For instance, the UPA had to deal with the 2008 financial crisis. But the Modi government had to deal with a once-in-a-century pandemic. Which was the bigger challenge? [...] How do the Modi years compare? From 30 percent in 2014, India increased this ratio to 37 percent in 2019 and further to 42 percent in 2024. India's per capita GDP now stands at $2850, compared to $6770 for its peers. There is still a long way to go. But in the Modi years, India has at least taken a big leap forward. Unlike the years between 2004 and 2014, when India was going backwards.