UPSC Prelims 1999 · General Studies

Question 22: Economy and Social Development

Among which one of the following sets of social/religious groups is the extent of poverty the highest, as per Government statistics for the nineties?

aMuslims in Kerala, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh

bTribals in Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra

cScheduled Castes in Punjab, Western Uttar Pradesh, northern Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu

dChristians in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Assam

AnswerThe answer is (b).

Government poverty estimates for the 1990s showed the highest incidence among Scheduled Tribes, particularly in the tribal belts of states such as Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, where land is poor, forests have shrunk and basic services are thin. The groups in the other options are less poor than these tribal households. Remember: tribal households are the poorest group in India's poverty statistics.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Wrong. Muslims in these states are less poor than tribals in the tribal belts.
(b) Right. Tribals in these states show the highest poverty in the official statistics.
(c) Wrong. Scheduled Castes in these areas are poor but less so than the tribals.
(d) Wrong. Christians in these states are among the less poor groups.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1999, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.