Poverty & Unemployment (Part – I)

Total Questions: 57

1. The minimum percentage of population below the poverty line is recorded in: [U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (d) Goa
Solution:As per the poverty estimates based on Tendulkar methodology, the poverty ratio of the given States are as follows:
State2004-05 (%)2009-10 (%)2010-11 (%)
Jammu & Kashmir13.19.410.35
Punjab20.915.98.26
Haryana24.120.111.16
Goa24.98.75.09

Hence, among the given States, Goa had the least percent- age of population below the poverty line for the year 2009-10 and 2010-11, while for the year 2004-05, Jammu & Kashmir had the lowest poverty ratio among these States.

2. Which one of the following States has the least percent. age of its population below the poverty line? [U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010, U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2004]

Correct Answer: (c) Kerala
Solution:As per the estimates (based on Tendulkar methodology) for the year 2004-05, 2009-10 and 2011-12, proportion of population living below the poverty line (in percentage) in the given States are as follows:
State2004-05 (%)2009-10 (%)2011-12 (%)
Kerala19.612.07.05
Punjab20.915.98.26
Andhra Pradesh29.621.19.20
Gujarat31.623.016.63

3. According to the report of World Bank, more than 50 percent poor in India, live in these four states: [B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]

Correct Answer: (a) Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha
Solution:According to the report of World Bank, in the question period more than 50 percent of poor people were living in these four States of the country: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

As per the estimates of 2011-12 (Tendulkar methodology), the five States with the highest poor population in descending order were as follows: 1. Uttar Pradesh (598.19 lakh), 2. Bihar (358.15 lakh), 3. Madhya Pradesh (234.06 lakh), 4. Maharashtra (197.92 lakh), and 5. West Bengal (184.98 lakh).

4. Which one of the following pairs is correct? Percentage of Population below Poverty Line (1993-94) [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1994]

StatePercentage (%)
(a) Punjab45.3%
(b) Bihar13.8%
(c) Uttar Pradesh49.5%
(d) Rajasthan34.3%
Correct Answer: (e) None of the above
Solution:Percentage of population below the poverty line (poverty ratio) in the given States are as follows:
State1993-94 (%)2011-12 (%)
Punjab11.77%8.26%
Bihar54.96%33.74%
Uttar Pradesh40.85%29.43%
Rajasthan27.41%14.71%

Hence, none of the given options are correctly matched.

5. For Bihar, in 1993-94, the Planning Commission estimated that percentage of below poverty line (BPL) was: [B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]

Correct Answer: (a) 55
Solution:Percentage of population below the poverty line (poverty ratio) in the given States are as follows:
State1993-94 (%)2011-12 (%)
Punjab11.77%8.26%
Bihar54.96%33.74%
Uttar Pradesh40.85%29.43%
Rajasthan27.41%14.71%

Hence, none of the given options are correctly matched.

6. Consider the following statements: [U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2010]

Assertion (A): Madhya Pradesh is called the Ethiopia of India.

Reason (R): Its hallmarks are excessive infant mortality and malnutrition.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Codes:

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:As per the India State Hunger Index (ISHI) published in the year 2008, among all Indian States, Madhya Pradesh was in worst position. Here the condition of malnutrition and infant mortality rate were similar to the African countries like Ethiopia and Chad. Therefore, Madhya Pradesh was called as Ethiopia of India. Hence, Assertion and Reason both are correct and Reason, explains the Assertion correctly.

7. Which one of the following States is called 'the Ethiopia of India' because the excessive malnutrition? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]

Correct Answer: (b) Madhya Pradesh
Solution:As per the India State Hunger Index (ISHI) published in the year 2008, among all Indian States, Madhya Pradesh was in worst position. Here the condition of malnutrition and infant mortality rate were similar to the African countries like Ethiopia and Chad. Therefore, Madhya Pradesh was called as Ethiopia of India. Hence, Assertion and Reason both are correct and Reason, explains the Assertion correctly.

8. Which of the following is a method to eradicate poverty? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]

Correct Answer: (d) All of the above
Solution:Population control, increased savings (higher capital formation) and more investment in productive activities all of these will help in eradicating poverty.

The poverty line solely depends on the per capita income in India rather than the level of prices. The poverty line is the minimum income required to purchase the basic goods and services that are essential to satisfy the basic human needs. The proportion of the population that is below this poverty line is called the poverty ratio or headcount ratio.

Similar approaches are followed by most countries and international institutions for determining BPL. In India, the first official rural and urban poverty lines at the national level were introduced in 1979 by Y. K. Alagh Committee.

The Public Distribution System (PDS) which evolved as a system of management for food and distribution of food grains plays a major role in poverty alleviation. This programme is operated jointly by the Central Government and the State Government of India. The responsibilities include:

  • Allocations of commodities such as rice, wheat, kerosene, and sugar to the States and Union Territories.
  • Issue of Ration Cards for the people below the poverty line.
  • Identification of families living below the poverty line.
  • Management of food scarcity and distribution of food grains.

9. Assertion (A): Presently, there is no clear picture about the extent of poverty in India. [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]

Reason (R): There have been major shifts in the strategy of poverty eradication programmes.

Code:

Correct Answer: (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
Solution:Presently, there is no clear determination of the prevalence of poverty in India. There was significant difference between previous estimations of planning commission and the data of poverty obtained by method suggested by the Tendulkar Committee.

Again, in the nineties poverty alleviation programmes were restructured due to lack of coherence and low effectiveness of previous programmes. Hence, both Assertion and Rea- son are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.

10. How do District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAS) help in the reduction of rural poverty in India? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]

1. DRDAs act as Panchayati Raj Institutions in certain specified backward regions of the country.

2. DRDAs undertake area-specific scientific study of the causes of poverty and malnutrition and prepare detailed remedial measures.

3. DRDAs secure inter-sectoral and inter-departmental coordination and cooperation for effective implementation of anti-poverty programmes.

4. DRDAs watch over and ensure effective utilization of the funds intended for anti-poverty programmes. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 3 and 4 only
Solution:The main function of District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) is to help in reducing poverty in rural India. These agencies ensure inter-regional and inter-departmental coordination and co-operation for effective implementation of poverty eradicating programmes. It ensures monitoring of fund created for poverty eradication as well as its effective implementation.