US consumption model will require six countries if adopted by India, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

India will lose its essence if it tries to become superpower nations like America and China, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Here, along with Hero Enterprise Chairman Sunil Kant Munjal presents the award at the 18th ML Munjal Awards in New Delhi on Monday, June 15, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday (Jun 15, 2026) criticized what he described as the United States’ overconsumption-driven development model, saying that if the entire world adopted America’s standard of living, a few Earths would not be enough to sustain humanity.

Speaking at the 18th BML Munjal Awards held in Delhi, Mr. Bhagwat argued that economic prosperity must be guided by restraint, ethical behavior and concern for the welfare of others.

“The best standard of living is often associated with America. But if we, 142 million Indians, start living like America, then one Earth will not be enough; six Earths will be needed… They take so many resources of the planet without thinking that others have a right to the resources too,” he said.

Contrasting India’s civilizational ethos with what he portrayed as a self-interested global order, Mr Bhagwat said countries often extended friendship and cooperation only when their strategic or economic interests were being served.

Referring to the United States, he said the country’s relations are often shaped by a clause that is “under the assumption that American interests are protected.”

Help the neighbors

He cited India’s assistance to neighboring countries during crises, including supplying water to the Maldives and providing support to Sri Lanka, even as China sought to expand its foothold in the country, as examples of a different approach based on duty and goodwill. “It was not China who helped Sri Lanka, it was India… We may not be rich enough to help everyone, but when our neighbors are in need, we stand by them,” the RSS chief said.

Mr. Bhagwat said India has historically viewed prosperity as a means of collective well-being rather than individual accumulation. He called for the creation of economic power and warned that power without character could be destructive. “The world listens to the powerful. That’s why we need power of all kinds. But power must be accompanied by good intent and character,” he said.

“If India tries to become like these superpowers like America and China, it will lose its essence,” Mr. Bhagwat said.

He expressed concern over the widening economic divide in India and said it needed to be reduced to ensure the country was developed as it once was.

Mr. Bhagwat also dwelled on the concept of dharma, distinguishing it from religion and describing it as an inner nature that binds society together. Sustainability, he said, was fundamentally the work of dharma because it prevented fragmentation and ensured harmony.

“India is not just a geographical entity, it is a journey and a way of life,” the RSS chief said. While generations change over time, they still follow the same civilizational path, he added.

Published – 16 Jun 2026 02:54 IST