When we talk about an accent, we don't just mean the pronunciation of vowels and consonants but the stress patterns and pitch changes of the language - what gives each language its unique cadence. It's possible to use all the correct words with mostly correct pronunciation of sounds, but if the stress pattern and intonation of the speaker's mother tongue is too strong, they won't be easy to understand and it is tiring to listen to them in extended speech. I often have that problem when ringing customer support for my bank or internet service provider !

I keep hearing people here say they speak with a "neutral accent." There is no such thing in my opinion. Everyone has some kind of accent no matter where they come from or how they speak. I think they are trying to say that they (think they) speak with the same accent as the educated mainstream in their country. Anyway, of course it will be easier to understand people who speak the same accent as the one you started learning with. And someone who speaks like a typical British person (for example) will help you to understand more people in Britain (or British movies and television) than someone from India or California who speaks with the accent found in those areas. I'd recommend probably focussing on learning to communicate with people from one region, whichever one holds most interest for you, and then gradually expanding that circle. Personally, as someone who has spent most of my life living in Canada and the US, I sometimes find English from other areas (Scotland, New Zealand, Barbados as examples) difficult to understand, but after spending some time, I get used to it and learn to understand these accents. This is harder to do if English isn't your native language.

I agree with Chris and sezme's advice on targeting a particular accent is a good idea. I'd recommend it, but don't make accent everything. Being easily understood is the main point. If you have an Indian accent makes it harder for native speakers to understand, then it'd be good to work on it. I use native speakers as the benchmark only because it is harder to know whether other speakers don't understand because of their own proficiency in the language or because the accent is less intelligible. All the best in your journey learning English! :)

Hi. I have traveled a lot in the last Years, except during the COVID pandemic moment. For me, with all my respect, people from Scotland and from India require my really and focused attention. But I know that it depend on the person and it is not for all.

As an American, some of the accents of Scotland are difficult. (They are fascinating to listen to, but not always easy to understand) In my own country, the accent in some of the southern states, for example the state of Louisiana, are sometimes difficult even for native speakers to understand. Конечно, идиомы и выражения также различаются в разных местах, и это еще одна проблема, xaxaxa.