Today, gold has become more than Rs 1 lakh per 10 grams in the country. But if you are asked, what was the cost of gold at the time of the country being independent? Do you know Actually, today 78 years have passed since the country was freed, the country is now growing rapidly. The country has changed a lot in the last 78 years, now India is the fourth largest economic power in the world, preparations are going on to come in third place in the next few years. Now India’s name resonates all over the world. Despite the global challenges, the tricolor is waving gracefully. Today we will tell you how much India has changed compared to 1947. We will compare this change to inflation, income, gold-silver prices, GDP, petrol and food prices. The figures are very interesting.
How much country has changed in 78 years
– Indians are very fond of gold, gold price in 1947 was about ₹ 88 per 10 grams, which has now increased to more than Rs 1 lakh.
– Just before independence i.e. in 1947, the price of silver (Silver Price 1947) was about Rs 106 per kg, which has increased to more than Rs 1,10,00 per kg in the year 2025. The price of silver in 2018-19 was ₹ 40,000 per kg, in the year 2025, the price of silver has increased by more than 30 percent.
In 1947, the price of petrol in India was around 25-27 paise per liter. Which has increased to Rs 100 in 2025. Currently, the price of one liter of petrol in Delhi is around 95 rupees.
In 1947, the price of rice was around 10 to 16 rupees per quintal (ie 100 kg). That is, at the time of independence, the average price of rice was 0.10 to 0.16 per kg. Which is now an average of Rs 40 per kg, good rice is more expensive.
At the time of independence, the price of eggs in India was about 2 to 4 paise per egg. Currently an egg is available in India for 8-10 rupees.
– If you talk about mustard oil, then in 1947 it used to get 15-20 paise per kg. At the time of independence, the prices of edible oils were very low, now in the year 2025 mustard oil is being sold at Rs 190-200 per liter. Which reflects inflation and economic changes.
At present, potatoes are being sold in the country 30 to 40 rupees per kg. Whereas in 1947, the price of potatoes was about 3 to 5 rupees per quintal (100 kg), that is, a maximum of 5 paise per kg.
How much people used to earn in 1947
It is not that in 1947, 10 grams of gold was available for 88 rupees, then it was very cheap, according to the income and inflation of that time, 88 rupees were also enough, because the country was struggling with economic challenges, employment opportunities were less, people were limited.
– At the time of independence, per capita income was about 230 to 250 rupees per year, which was equal to 20 to 25 rupees per month. This income was mainly from agriculture and unorganized sectors, as most of the population lived in rural areas and depended on agriculture. The average monthly salary of employees working in the organized sector (government job, railway) was between Rs 50 and Rs 150. Now the annual per capita income is about 2 lakh rupees.
There is no accurate information available about India’s retail inflation rate in 1947. But the way foods were expensive, the projected retail inflation rate would have been more than 10 percent. Because the country got immediate independence and the economy was influenced by World War II. Due to which the prices of food items and essential commodities fluctuated. Currently, in the year 2025, the average retail inflation rate is 3-4 percent.
Not only this, 1 dollar in 1947 was equal to about 3.3 rupees. On this basis, India’s GDP would have been around US $ 800-900 million. While currently one dollar is equal to about 86 rupees, and India’s GDP is about 4 trillion dollars.
