No my friend. On the contrary, this is how a country becomes rich. Space missions have hundreds and thousands of parts and services. If even half of these are sourced locally this gives a boost to the industry meaning a richer economy with more scientists and engineers and more engineering jobs. And when you have a rich competitive economy, you can fund a social safety net.
Interesting. But I have personally witnessed poverty and people dying of hunger in front of my very eyes. I’d rather help those people than invest in failed moon missions.
I've seen this argument come up a lot. It inevitably comes up with regards to foreign aid as well, expeditions, and all sorts of pursuits.
The thing is, sending things to the moon is part of that fight too. Pouring every last cent into say, food, isn't the best approach. To build an economy to greater heights, there has to be demand and motivation for great things. Think of all of the industries and support that is stoaked as part of an effort like that. There's downward effects that ripple outwards for many, many degrees. New problems to be solved from just "how do we build a better flange?" to "how do we feed a staff located at a remote site?". I'm not talking trickle down economics here, but real impacts on a nation's economy. And a government can do this very effectivally (provided it does so with integrity).
The other part to this of course, is that there has to be something to take pride in, something to point to as an accomplishment, something visible and concrete. Something your kids can aim for and strive to become. As important as tackling say, poverty, or homelessness is, those are long term struggles that are hard to point to and say "see, that!" except over long periods of time.
So, really, I wouldn't feel bad they tried. They should. Yes, India has many problems to solve. And there's direct ways they can and should tackle those. But pursuing endeavors like this is important to, and has an impact on those immediate problems as well.
I genuinely hope they keep trying and we (the rest of the world citizenry interested in pushing mankind's exploration starward) hope they succeed next time. Space travel is hard. Really hard. But they'll get there, and the planet will be better for it.