Ipsos, a worldwide market analysis agency, has printed findings from its newest 30-country survey, “Is Life Getting Higher?” The research examined how individuals view life in the present day in contrast with life half a century in the past.
Nostalgia is widespread despite the fact that 72% of respondents throughout these international locations — together with India — had been born after 1975. In India, particularly, a higher proportion of individuals consider that life in 1975 was higher than it’s in 2025.
41% of Indians mentioned ‘individuals had been happier in 1975’
When evaluating life in the present day with 1975, many Indians drew on generational reminiscences and household narratives that painting the previous as a time marked by higher concord, simplicity, and stronger group bonds.
A minimum of 44% of Indians consider that environmental high quality was higher in 1975 than it’s in the present day. Latest pure disasters, reminiscent of floods and landslides, seem to have bolstered the notion that the atmosphere has deteriorated over time.
The same pattern is seen in perceptions of happiness, with 41% of Indians believing that individuals had been happier in 1975.
“Respondents pointed to higher social bonding, fewer digital distractions, extra household time, and a slower tempo of life. Whereas monetary sources had been restricted then, many consider individuals nonetheless lived contentedly and shared extra significant private interactions,” the research discovered.
In 2025, India was ranked 118th amongst 147 international locations within the World Happiness Report 2025.
In line with the survey, extra Indian residents consider that streets had been safer 50 years in the past, and dwelling requirements are perceived to have been higher up to now. “Folks additionally felt much less threatened by conflict or international battle, and healthcare was thought-about extra accessible or inexpensive throughout that point,” the research added.
What was occurring in 1975 in India?
In 1975, India’s then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed a Nationwide Emergency on the midnight of June 25–26, citing “inner disturbance.”
This 21-month authoritarian interval (25 June 1975 – 21 March 1977) suspended civil liberties, jailed over 100,000 opposition leaders and critics with out trial, censored the press, and gave unchecked powers to the federal government.
Triggered by the Allahabad Excessive Courtroom’s verdict disqualifying Gandhi’s 1971 election and nationwide protests led by Jayaprakash Narayan, the Emergency stays the darkest chapter in unbiased India’s democratic historical past, lasting till Gandhi known as elections in 1977 and misplaced energy.
“Training is best in the present day”
Indians overwhelmingly consider training is best in the present day than it was 50 years in the past. They cite higher availability of job-oriented, skill-based packages that put together college students for a contemporary workforce, versus the extra generalised, theory-heavy curricula of earlier a long time. “Regardless of 78% of surveyed Indians being born after 1975, nostalgia runs deep — 44% and 41% really feel the atmosphere and happiness had been higher then,” said Suresh Ramalingam, CEO, Ipsos India.
The 30-country research reveals a transparent international pattern towards nostalgia. When requested whether or not they would like to be born in 1975 or 2025, respondents overwhelmingly selected the previous, almost two to 1. On common, 44% would have appreciated to be born in 1975, whereas solely 24% desire the current.
France is probably the most nostalgic nation
France is probably the most nostalgic nation, with 57% of its inhabitants preferring 1975.
Regardless of 78% of surveyed Indians being born after 1975, nostalgia runs deep — 44% and 41% really feel the atmosphere and happiness had been higher then.
In the meantime, South Korea stands as the only real outlier, with extra respondents selecting to be born within the current than 50 years in the past. Belgium and Mexico (each 53%), together with Nice Britain and New Zealand (each 52%), additionally present robust leanings towards the previous, the report mentioned.
A transparent majority consider the world was a happier place in earlier a long time. Fifty-five per cent say their nation was happier in 1975, in contrast with simply 16% who really feel that means about in the present day, the research revealed.
Key Takeaways
- A majority of Indians understand the 1975 period as happier regardless of its authoritarian governance.
- There’s a stark distinction between perceptions of happiness up to now versus in the present day, with many citing group bonds and ease.
- The survey displays a broader international pattern of nostalgia, with many respondents preferring to be born in 1975 over 2025.
