Economy takes centre stage as India heads to the polls

The 2024 Indian general election sees more than 970 million eligible voters casting their ballots in a multiphase vote from April 19 to June 1, 2024. © FMM Studio Graphics

India has kicked off its marathon elections, with nearly a billion people eligible to cast ballots. High on voters' minds will be issues relating to the country's economy. How has the world's most populous nation and fifth-biggest economy fared since the 2014 elections that brought Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist BJP to power? Have the lives of India's people materially improved? We take a closer look in this special edition.