Over the past two decades, India has recorded one of the fastest growth rates among major economies, with real GDP nearly quadrupling and per capita income almost tripling since 2000. This expansion has reduced extreme poverty, expanded infrastructure, and increased India’s weight in the global economy. Yet, despite these gains, India remains firmly within the lower-middle-income category. India’s stated ambition of attaining high-income status by 2047—coinciding with the centenary of independence—represents a sharp break from business-as-usual growth trajectories. Achieving this objective would require an unprecedented and sustained acceleration in per capita income growth, a feat historically accomplished by only a small set of economies. In an increasingly uncertain global environment marked by slower growth, geopolitical fragmentation, and climate risk, such an outcome is far from assured. This paper examines India’s growth experience in historical and comparative perspective, identifies the structural constraints that threaten long-term convergence, and evaluates recent policy initiatives aimed at addressing them. It argues that India’s success will hinge not on maintaining high aggregate growth alone, but on resolving persistent weaknesses in productivity, employment generation, human capital formation, and institutional effectiveness. Without deep structural reform and disciplined policy implementation, India’s high-income aspiration is likely to be delayed well beyond the 2047 horizon.