Full explanation
The 4% rule: in year 1 of retirement, withdraw 4% of corpus; in subsequent years, increase withdrawal by inflation rate. This historically sustains a 30-year retirement in the US (from 1926 data). For India: inflation averages 6% vs US 3%, meaning purchasing power erosion is faster. A 3–3.5% initial withdrawal rate is more conservative for Indian retirees. Alternatively: build a larger corpus (33x annual expenses vs 25x for 4% rule). Also consider: bucket strategy (1–2 years expenses in cash/liquid, 3–5 years in debt, rest in equity), partial annuity for guaranteed income floor.