GS2 · 10 marks · 150 words

Given India's strides in reducing extreme poverty, should the country consider redefining its poverty line to better reflect the current socio-economic realities? Discuss the potential benefits and challenges associated with redefinition of the poverty line.

Answered by 9 toppers · CSE 2022–2025

Poverty and HungerPolicy Design and Implementation

Syllabus: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

How toppers approached it

From 8 of the 9 answers · about 140 words · 75% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A figure75%
  • A date or context13%
  • No separate opening13%

Body

  • Points and prose75%
  • Points25%

Close

  • A way forward88%
  • A summary13%

The toppers’ answers

Raghav JhunjhunwalaAIR 4 · CSE 2025 · 139 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a figure

As per 2023 oxford-UNDP multi Dimensional Poverty Index; India has successfully reduced M-D Poverty from 55.1% (2005-06) to 16.4% (2019-21).

Body · points

Diagram
- Axes: - Y-axis: India's Anti Poverty Tools - X-axis: Time (Early Independence → 1970s 1980s → Today) - Diagram content: - A downward sloping line showing evolution of poverty approach - 'Trickle down Approach' labeled on the early phase of the line - 'Self Employment & Skill Developt' labeled on the middle phase of the line - 'BASIC NEEDS approach' pointing to 'ease of living' in the modern phase - Arrows pointing from 'ease of living' to 'PM Awas', 'clean cooking fuel', 'sanitation etc.'

Redefining Poverty line : Required

  1. merely looking Poverty from consumption Expenditure leads to narrow idea of poverty (Poverty is not only lack of Income - Amartya sen)

(2) Aspirations of 21st century & dream of 'Viksit Bharat' requires comprehensive Poverty Alleviation.

(3) Narrow Poverty line fails to depict hidden socio-Economic cleavages (caste based & gender deprivation, etc.)

Potential challenges

(1) Formulation of a suitable & comprehensive 'line': → even HDI metric is criticized for lack of aspects of Inequality etc.

(2) How do we ensure built-in flexibility as we progress ahead?

(3) Formation of consensus between Academia-Govt.

Way Ahead

Close · a way forward

NITI MDPI offers a better tool to target poverty comprehensively as it covers both Intensity & Incidence of poverty.

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