India’s Poverty Decline: NSO Surveys and World Bank Data
Why in the news
NSO surveys and World Bank data show sharply lower poverty and inequality.
Key facts
- Headcount ratio: 29.5% to 4.9% (24.6 points).
- $2.15/day line: 16.2% to 2.3%; $3.65/day: 61.8% to 28.1%.
- GDP growth 9.2% and CPI 5.4% in 2023-24.
- Half the poor live at 75%-100% of the line; rural and urban areas contributed equally, with urban inequality falling faster.
| Area | 2023-24 | 2022-23 | 2011-12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural | ₹1,940 | ₹1,837 | ₹972 |
| Urban | ₹2,736 | ₹2,603 | ₹1,407 |
Lines follow the Rangarajan Committee method, inflation-adjusted, with improved sampling.
Concerns
- Near-poor households are exposed to shocks.
- Gig workers, migrants and urban poor lack PDS and health cover.
- Informal urban workers are under-sampled.
Way forward
- Expand PM-GKAY, LPG DBTs and cash transfers; climate-resilient NREGA work.
- Portable safety nets; PM POSHAN and Saksham Anganwadi.
- Annual multi-dimensional poverty audits.
Exam angle
- Rangarajan Committee lines; Gini 0.310 to 0.253.