Double Standards: “Be Local” for People, “Go Global” for the Government
In the name of global crisis, the country’s top leaders tell citizens from public platforms: “Avoid wasteful foreign travel, promote local tourism, don’t take money abroad, and reduce investment in gold.”
Yet, while giving this advice, government spending on diplomatic trips to Europe and the UAE, official visits, and high-tea events for foreign delegations continues as usual. The public is taught “swadeshi and simplicity”, while those in power enjoy the red carpet abroad.
Global for Leaders, Local for Citizens
The middle class feels this contrast deeply — especially because it is already crushed under the highest effective tax burden and rising cost of living. When common taxpayers are asked to cut back on small pleasures and investments, government officials and delegations remain busy with high-profile foreign tours:
- External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar recently returned from an official visit to Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago (2 to 10 May 2026). Just before this, he had undertaken back-to-back tours of the UAE and Europe.
- Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar recently completed an official visit to Sri Lanka.
- Another important tour is currently active: BJP senior leader and Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, is on a major multi-country official visit from 8 May to 15 May 2026. The itinerary includes Costa Rica (for the Presidential oath-taking ceremony on 8 May), Honduras, Belize, and Dominica. This is the first Indian ministerial-level visit to Dominica since October 2018.
Taxpayers’ Money Funding the Flying Secretariat: Real Cost of VVIP ToursWhen the common man is advised to practise simplicity, the country wants to know how much of the taxpayers’ hard-earned money is being spent like water on these diplomatic tours.
Parliamentary Data: ₹462.58 Crore Spent in 5 Years
- Average cost per trip: ₹10 crore to ₹12 crore.
- High-profile trips:
- France visit (February 2025): ≈ ₹25.5 crore
- USA visit (June 2023): ≈ ₹22.8 crore
- Short trips to neighbouring countries (Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh) cost between ₹1–3 crore.
Air India One Fuel Consumption: 8,000 Litres Per Hour
For the Prime Minister’s travel and security, India has two specially customised Boeing 777-300ER aircraft called Air India One.
- These aircraft consume approximately 7,500 to 8,000 litres of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) per hour.
- A 10-hour non-stop flight from Delhi to the US or Europe consumes 75,000 to 80,000 litres of fuel one way.
- Additional operational costs include special airspace clearance, ground handling, and emergency standby fees, which run into lakhs of rupees.
Where the Massive Budget Actually Goes (Not Just Fuel)
This multi-crore budget is not spent only on aircraft fuel. A huge VVIP logistical system works behind it:
- Large Delegation — Dozens of senior MEA officials, SPG security personnel, technical staff, and media team travel together.
- Hotels and Secure Communications — Five-star hotel rooms, secure hotlines, and conference rooms for the entire delegation, paid in foreign currency.
- Advance Security Team (ASL) — A large team reaches the destination several days in advance to finalise security and routes. Their travel and stay costs are also included.
- Local Transportation — Bullet-proof car convoys and special vehicles hired abroad, costing many times more than normal rates.
These are diplomatic duties and are necessary. But the real question is about priorities. When the government can spend crores on foreign tours, five-star protocols, and global presence, why is the middle class — which carries the burden of the economy — repeatedly asked to make sacrifices and tighten its belt in the name of “national interest”?
The Supply Chain Blindspot: Is Austerity Only for the Masses
This double standard is not restricted to the political class alone. When the common man is being lectured to conserve fuel, embrace local tourism, and cut down on gold investments, why shouldn't Bollywood celebrities, businessmen, high-profile influencers, and other elites also put a brake on their unnecessary foreign vacations, private jets, and lavish destination events? In the current global crisis, the issue isn't just about affordability—it’s about a deeply disrupted supply chain. True crisis management demands collective accountability, not class-based austerity.
The scalpel cuts deepest when austerity is prescribed only for the patient, never for the surgeon
European-Level Taxes, Sub-Saharan FacilitiesThe irony is that we pay taxes at European levels, but the basic facilities we receive (good roads, government schools-hospitals, clean air and water) are not even at the level of an average developing country.
- The rich save themselves through tax planning, loopholes, and corporate benefits.
- The poor get free rations and welfare schemes.
- But the middle class is the patient who cannot even scream — income tax is deducted from salary, GST is charged on every expense, and they have to pay high private-sector costs for children’s education, healthcare, and house-car.
2026 New Tax Regime: Real Burden on Middle Class
| Annual Gross Salary (₹) | Approx. Tax Liability | Take-home Salary (approx) | Effective Tax % | Category |
| 8 Lakh | ₹0 (Due to 87A Rebate) | ₹8,00,000 | 0% | Lower Middle Class |
| 12 Lakh | ₹0 (Due to 87A Rebate) | ₹12,00,000 | 0% | Core Middle Class |
| 15 Lakh | ₹1,09,200 (Includes Cess) | ₹13,90,800 | ~7.3% | Typical Urban Middle |
| 18 Lakh | ₹1,61,200 (Includes Cess) | ₹16,38,800 | ~8.9% | Upper Middle |
| 25 Lakh | ₹3,43,200 (Includes Cess) | ₹21,56,800 | ~13.7% | High Middle Class |
- Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) Tax Shock: Capital gains tax (12.5% LTCG) will now apply at maturity on SGBs bought from the secondary market. Only original RBI subscribers holding till maturity get exemption.
- F&O Trading STT Increase: STT on Futures raised from 0.02% to 0.05%, on Options from 0.1% to 0.15%.
- Mutual Fund & Dividend Income: Loan interest deduction against dividend and mutual fund units removed.
Trend: Personal Income Tax collection is expected to be 18% higher than corporate tax (FY26-27: PIT ≈ ₹14.66 lakh crore vs Corporate ≈ ₹12.31 lakh crore).Taxed Like Europeans, Living Like Sub-Saharan
Middle class faces double taxation — 5% to 30% direct income tax + 5-28% GST on spending. Plus private tax penalty:
- Bad government schools → expensive private school fees (up ~60% in 3 years).
- Poor government hospitals → health insurance + private treatment.
- Broken roads → higher vehicle maintenance + toll tax.
Corporatocracy and Rising InequalityCorporate effective tax rate is 22-25% with concessions, while middle class marginal rate reaches 30% + surcharge + cess. Generosity is shown in corporate NPAs and loan write-offs, but small investors face the scissors.
World Inequality Report 2026:
- Top 1% holds ~40% national wealth
- Top 10% holds ~65% wealth
- Bottom 50% holds just ~6% wealth
Household debt has reached 41.3% of GDP, mostly consumption loans.ADR Report: Average assets of 102 re-elected MPs increased 110% (from ₹15.76 crore to ₹33.13 crore) between 2014 and 2024. Many saw 300–700% growth.Final Takeaway
In 2026, the middle class has become India’s “Tax Paying Cow” — its milk is extracted to fund corporate subsidies, election freebies, and infrastructure projects.
Until the quality of education, healthcare, and infrastructure improves and real equity comes in the tax system, the silent collapse of the middle class will continue.
References & Primary Sources
VVIP Budget Estimates: Sourced from the official budget receipts and fiscal allocations under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Parliamentary Expense Data: Verified through the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha answered questions archive at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Parliament Portal.
Diplomatic Travel Schedules: Current ministerial itineraries and diplomatic missions monitored via the MEA Media Center Forums.
VVIP Aircraft Operational Metrics: Fuel burn rates, hourly aviation turbine fuel (ATF) consumption, and technical specifications of the Boeing 777-300ER (Air India One) sourced from aviation fleet data and operational guidelines tracked via the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Official Portal.
Section 87A and LTCG Clauses: New Tax Regime slabs, fiscal cliff-edges, and Sovereign Gold Bond amendments reviewed from the Income Tax Department of India.
National Wealth Distribution: Income disparity gaps, wealth concentration metrics, and economic divide data extracted from the World Inequality Database (WID).
Macroeconomic Credit Tracing: India’s household debt-to-GDP ratio and middle-class consumption loan trends monitored via the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Database.
Political Asset Growth: Comparative tracking of re-elected MPs' financial affidavits and asset growth compiled by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
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