Bursting the Bubble of Bias: A Rebuttal to Santosh Mehrotra’s Inequality Spin in The Wire

In a now routine display of ideological acrobatics, The Wire published a piece by Santosh Mehrotra titled “All the Reasons Why the World Bank’s Claims on Falling Inequality Are Wrong – Especially in India.” It’s less an economic critique and more an exercise in academic gaslighting—peppered with selective data, sweeping generalisations, and the same tired narrative that casts every Indian achievement as suspect, every statistic as manipulated, and every global recognition as a conspiracy.

Let’s dissect the half-truths and expose the agenda.

1. Gini Gymnastics : Twisting Metrics to Fit a Narrative

Mehrotra’s primary gripe is with the World Bank’s finding that India’s consumption-based Gini coefficient dropped from 28.8 in 2011–12 to 25.5 in 2022–23. He calls it misleading because it’s “consumption-based,” not “income-based,” arguing that rich households save more, and hence the inequality is understated.

What he doesn’t say:

Even the World Inequality Database shows India’s income Gini at 61, which is incomparable to consumption Gini. But Mehrotra cherry-picks the more dramatic number to craft a dystopian picture. That’s not analysis — it’s narrative laundering.

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2. Poverty Denial as Political Strategy

The World Bank, using globally standard metrics, estimates that poverty in India dropped from 12.5% in 2011–12 to under 5% in 2022–23. This is not a random press release — it’s backed by the NSSO’s 2022–23 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey and aligned with the $1.90/day (PPP) poverty line.

Mehrotra calls this “bogus,” conveniently forgetting:

These aren’t just numbers — they’re lives transformed. But Mehrotra’s entire premise hinges on refusing to acknowledge even one positive outcome under this government. How convenient for someone still ideologically parked in the JNU faculty lounge.

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3. Misquoting to Manufacture Outrage

Mehrotra lambasts the World Bank and the Press Information Bureau (PIB) for allegedly claiming India is “the 4th most equal country.” That was a PIB misinterpretation, later corrected. The World Bank never made that claim.

So why drag it in?

Because the goal was never to critique methodology, but to muddy waters, discredit India, and play cheerleader to the ‘India-failing’ fantasy that The Wire thrives on.

This is not academic integrity — it’s ideological warfare dressed as research.

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4. No Context, No Comparision – Just Anti-India Rhetoric

Mehrotra paints India as uniquely unequal, ignoring:

But where’s the critique of China? Nowhere. Because that doesn’t serve the agenda. Mehrotra and his ilk never seem to find flaws in Communist China — only in democratic India. Coincidence? Hardly.

5. The Congress – China Echo Chamber

It’s no surprise that Mehrotra’s views align closely with Congress spokespersons and the likes of Jairam Ramesh, who never miss a chance to undermine India’s global standing.

To Jairam Ramesh:

Try being happy for once.

If India reduces poverty, it’s not a betrayal of Nehru. It’s progress.

To Santosh Mehrotra:

Your article reads more like a Chinese op-ed than an Indian economist’s reflection. You ignore real growth, belittle poverty reduction, and dismiss any data not aligning with your gloom-and-doom doctrine.

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The Data Doesn’t Lie – But Ideologues Do

India isn’t perfect. Inequality exists, and challenges remain. But dismissing the fall in poverty, the narrowing consumption gap, and rising rural incomes isn’t just unfair — it’s dishonest.

While the world acknowledges India’s progress, voices like Mehrotra’s remain trapped in an ideological loop — where no achievement counts unless it serves their political camp.

In the end, it’s not the World Bank’s credibility at stake — it’s Mehrotra’s.

India is not the problem. Your lens is.

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