Disclaimer: This doesn't apply to every Girl in India, please don't generalize it.
Girl's family telling boy's family they'll only agree to marry if:
He earns ridiculous amount of money, or
He is well settled, or
He owns a car, or
He should have investments, or
He must have assets lasting for life long, or bullshit.
On first glance, it sounds like a normal term, but it can be called as dowry easily.
First, let's get introduced to the actual definition as per The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
If the definition is correct following instances are dowry too:
Instance 1:
Girl wants husband to earn 10,00,000 Rs. p.m. if he's willing to marry her.
The girl does not wish to work after marrying, she only wants to sit home and enjoy.
So, if a person wants to marry her, he must be bringing Rs. 10,00,000 every month.
This is straight a case of dowry. It's understandable if she herself earns at least 2/3rd of what she's demanding him to earn, say, Rs. 6,66,666+.
But here, she marrys and enjoys a better life. If her dad was earning 10,00,000 and that's why she wants a husband who earns the same, well, it's better if she doesn't marry.
Why should one kick their asses off in office for a girl who doesn't have the equal capacity?
Instance 2:
Girl wants husband to be well settled and must've a car if he wants her to marry him.
The girl, in fact, doesn't even know what car is as her family never had it & she leaves in a rented flat too.
So, for marriage, this guy's family has to BUY a new house & car and then she'll be ready to marry him, fact, it's dowry as per the definition.
But society will really support her by saying “It's for her security”
BULLSHIT.
If the amount or any property she is asking is not within the scope what she already owns or has the capacity to own, this is begging, definition wise, dowry.
Instead, the marriage deal is like a combo offer for her. She gets money, flat, car, gold and free VIP treatment.
This all unfair shit has been happening in India since long.
A boy even if asks her wife to work, society is jobless to blame him saying that he isn't capable of feeding his family alone, so he makes his wife earn too.
If a boy's family asks brides family for car, let's say they are ready to pay 25:75 for it. 75 coming from Man's family, that'd still be straight dowry.
But when she asked the Groom's family to own a car if she wants to marry, it's for safe future?
How on Earth this logic deems fit from any angle?
Also, fake dowry cases are in good trend. Women asking for shit load of property and assets under name of Safe future is generally accepted and so is fake blame of dowry too.
Going apart from point:
10% dowry cases are fake. After dowry i.e. asking so much before marrying him, if she takes a divorce, she gets half of his soul from alimony.
Alimony was made with the intention to help a divorced person have his maintenance properly.