In a pandemic ravaged 2020, some of the richest people on this earth became even richer.  So far, the top 10 billionaires have added over $300 billion to their net worth in 2020, despite the pandemic. Meanwhile, the pandemic has left a huge impact on the lives the poor.  In a recent report, the World Bank has said that the global extreme poverty is expected to rise in 2020 for the first time in over 20 years due to the pandemic, conflict and climate change.  

In India too, this extreme can be noted. The domestic equity market is trading at all-time highs, and it has had the best run since 2017. The Nifty index is all set to end the year 14.9 per cent higher, while the Sensex has added 15.74 per cent. But, not is all good news. But, many reports talk about job losses and wage cuts for the poor and middle class due to the pandemic.  

However, the rising wealth gap between the poor and the rich is not new. In the coming decades, the government must work to address this imbalance.