That's because it's only now starting to industrialize, and that's due in no small part to them forming a space program.

Space is so vitally important not just for access to resources and clean energy but for the most important assets we have: our psyches. Space inspires, it bolsters education, it gives people reason to have faith in their country and keep going, it brings peace and love and joy. It's the lifeblood that drives the engines of science and progress in a peaceful way.

It gives people something to strive for, something to actually live for instead of only focusing on survival, like you have. It unifies while your mindset divides. It fosters cooperation while you foster conflict.

It's the most important thing we are doing as a species, and India will benefit far more from having a Moon program than trying to convince people to give up thousands of years' worth of traditional living for no reason.

You're drawing a false dichotomy anyway; without the resources in space, India won't be able to industrialize cleanly nor will any country. We simply don't have enough resources on the Earth to provide an average American lifestyle for everyone on the planet which India especially is going to strive for regardless of the cost, so it's either expand into space or collapse into climate hell.

Grow or die. You can stay down here and die if you want; I choose to grow and so does India apparently