India's housing squeeze: Why more young Indians are choosing to live with their parents

For generations, living with parents has been woven into India's social fabric, often seen as a reflection of strong family bonds rather than financial necessity. But that equation may be changing.As home prices and rents outpace incomes and people live longer, staying under one roof is increasingly becoming an economic compulsion for many young Indians.The World Economic Forum’s ‘The Longevity Dividend: The Business Case for Linking Health and Wealth’ report highlights how unaffordable housing is becoming a lifelong financial challenge. The report argues that housing costs affect not only the ability of young people to buy or rent a home, but also their capacity to build wealth, maintain financial security and prepare for longer lives.India stands out among the countries analysed. The report found that monthly mortgage payments in India amount to 295 per cent of an individual’s average monthly earnings, while rental payments amount to 139 per cent.