The ₹5 Crore Debate: Is Your Retirement Corpus Enough For India?

The Post That Started It All

On Sunday, December 28, 2025, Sumit Behal posted a simple but provocative statement on X (formerly Twitter):

“You cannot retire on 5 Crore in India.”

Within 24 hours, the post garnered over 2 lakh views, with the comment section becoming a battleground for financial planners, salaried employees, and early-retirement (FIRE) enthusiasts. Behal did not clarify if he meant ₹5 crore in liquid assets or total net worth, leaving the door open for wide-ranging interpretations.

The Counter-Arguments: Lifestyle vs. Location

Many users were quick to debunk the “one-size-fits-all” claim, highlighting that retirement is highly subjective:

• The “Owned House” Factor: Many argued that if an individual owns their home and has minimal debt, a ₹5 crore corpus is more than sufficient. One user noted, “5 Cr is more than enough if asset allocation is proper or bucket strategy is followed.”
• The Tier City Divide: Geography remains the biggest variable. While ₹5 crore might feel tight for a luxury lifestyle in Mumbai or Gurugram, it is considered a massive fortune in Tier-2 or Tier-3 cities like Lucknow, Indore, or Mysore.
• The 4% Rule: Traditionally, the “Safe Withdrawal Rate” suggests that a ₹5 crore corpus could yield ₹20 lakh per year (₹1.6 lakh per month) indefinitely—an amount well above the average Indian household income.

The “Ragebait” Accusations

A significant portion of the audience accused Behal of “engagement farming” or posting “ragebait” to boost his social media metrics.

• “You cannot retire on ₹5 crore — said every doom-monger who forgets some people live below metro extravagance,” one critic wrote.
• Others called it a “half-baked statement,” challenging the influencer to share the specific lifestyle math that would make ₹5 crore inadequate.

Retirement Realities in 2025

For those taking the debate seriously, financial experts point to three major “wealth-eaters” that could validate Behal’s concerns:

1. Healthcare Inflation: Medical costs in India are rising at roughly 10–12% annually, far outpacing general CPI inflation.
2. Longevity Risk: With life expectancy in urban India increasing, a corpus may now need to last 30 to 40 years post-retirement.
3. The “Aspiration” Tax: Post-retirement goals like international travel and higher education for children can quickly deplete a “comfortable” middle-class corpus.