Poverty and Unemployment (Social Development) Part-II

Total Questions: 54

41. According to official estimates the percentage of Indian population living below poverty line is about: [R.A.S/R.T.S.(Pre) 2003, Uttarakhand U.D.A.AD.A. (Pre) 2003]

Correct Answer: (b) 26
Solution:As per the Planning Commission estimates (based on Mixed Recall Period) for 1999-2000, the percentage of Indian population living below poverty line was 26.1. For further estimates of poverty in India, As per the earlier estimates (based on Uniform Recall Period) of the Planning Commission for the year 2004-05, 27.5 percent of the people in India live below the poverty line.

For the updated poverty data for 2009-10 and 2011-12 (released in March, 2012 and July, 2013 on the basis of Tendulkar Methodology), As per the data released on 19th March, 2012 (not in April, 2011) by the Planning Commission, the all-India poverty percentage (HCR) (based on Mixed Recall Period) had declined by 7.3 percentage points from 37.2% in 2004-05 to 29.8% in 2009-10.

The Planning Commission's estimates of poverty were based on methodology recommended by the Tendulkar Committee, which includes spending on health and education, besides the calorie intake. According to new data released by the Planning Commission in July 2013, based on Tendulkar methodology, the percentage of poverty was 21.9 in the year 2011-12.

As per NITI Aayog's Report 'National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023' (released in July, 2023), proportion of population in multidimensional poverty (Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio) in India declined from 24.85% to 14.96% between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

According to NITI Aayog's Discussion Paper 'Multidimensional Poverty in India since 2005-06' (released in January, 2024), a steep decline in multidimensional poverty headcount ratio in India is estimated from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23.

42. Eleventh Five Year Plan aims to reduce the poverty ratio by what percentage by the year 2012? [U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (c) 10.0%
Solution:In the Eleventh Five Year Plan period (2007-2012), a target of reduction in the head count ratio (HCR) of consumption poverty by 10 percentage points (till 2017) was set by creating 7 crore new employment opportunities. In the Twelfth Five Year Plan, the target of reduction of poverty by 2 per- centage points per annum and 10 percentage points in five years (till 2017) was set.

The Eleventh FiveYear Plan was a resounding success in many respects. The main aim of the 11th fiveyear plan was to bring about an inclusive growth that would benefit all sections of society, and this was largely achieved.

The Eleventh Five Year Plan objectives were also met in most cases, with impressive achievements in areas such as infrastructure development, education, and health. The Eleventh FiveYear Plan was a crucial period in the history of India's development, and it laid the foundation for the country's continued progress in the years to come.

43. According to the World Development Report 2005, the percentage of population in India earning less than USS 2 per day is: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

Correct Answer: (a) 50%
Solution:According to the World Development Report, 2005, India had 80 percent of the population earning less than US$ 2 per day. As per the latest available data of the World Bank, the extreme poverty head count ratio (% of population) at USS 2.15 a day (2017 PPP) in India was at 12.9% in 2021. It was established at 22.9% in 2011 and 18.1% in 2016.

Key Highlights of the World Development Report 2024

Middle Income Trap: India is among 100 countries, including China, at risk of falling into the "middle income trap," where countries struggle to transition from middle-income to high-income status.
Global Economic Impact: Middle-income countries are home to six billion
people, representing 75% of the global population, and generate over 40% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Per Capita Income Disparity: India is identified as the fastest growing major economy,
but it would take 75 years for its per capita income to reach a quarter of the US income levels if current trends continue

44. According to latest (2003) estimates of FAO, India's contribution to the World's hungry population is: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2003]

Correct Answer: (c) 30%
Solution:As per the estimates of the question period, option (c) was the correct answer. As per the latest available data of UN World Food Programme (UNWFP), about one-fourth of the world's undernourished people live in India and around 21.25 percent of the population lives on less than US $ 1.90 a day. India is ranked 111 out of 125 countries on the Global Hun- ger Index, 2023 with a score of 28.7.

45. What is the India's rank in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) in 2017? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (a) 100th
Solution:India was ranked at 100th position among 119 countries in Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2017. This report was released by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The GHI is a tool designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional and national levels. In the 2022 Global Hunger Index, India ranked 107th out of the 121 countries. India has slipped to 111th position in the 2023 Global Hunger Index of 125 countries.

46. Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2016]

1. Undernourishment

2. Child stunting

3. Child mortality

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool for comprehensively measuring and tracking hunger at global, regional and national levels. Created in 2006, the GHI was initially published by the US-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Germany-based Welthungerhilfe. In 2007, the Irish NGO Concern Worldwide also became a co-publisher.

In 2018, IFPRI stepped aside from its involvement in the project and the GHI became a joint project of Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. The four indicators used to compute the values for each country in Global Hunger Index are as follows:

  1. Undernourishment: The share of the population that is undernourished (that is, whose caloric intake is insufficient);
  2. Child Wasting: The share of children under the age of five who are wasted (that is, who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition);
  3. Child Stunting: The share of children under the age of five who are stunted (that is, who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition); and
  4. Child Mortality: The mortality rate of children under the age of five (partly reflecting the fotal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments)

47. 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? [I.A.S. (Pre) 1999]

Correct Answer: (b) Tribals in Bihar, Orissa, M.P. and Maharashtra
Solution:The extent of poverty was highest in tribals of Bihar, Odisha, M.P. and Maharashtra, as per the Government Statistics for the nineties.

The minimum expenditure (or income) required to purchase a basket of goods and services necessary to satisfy basic human needs is called the poverty line. Poverty line estimation in India has been based on the consumption expenditure and not on the income levels due to difficulties in assessing incomes rural and informal economy of India.

The basket of goods and services necessary to satisfy basic human needs is the Poverty Line Basket (PLB).

48. According to a survey conducted by the 'National Council of Applied Economic Research' (data released recently), which State in India has the highest percentage of population below the poverty line? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]

Correct Answer: (b) Bihar
Solution:According to a survey of 'National Council of Applied Economic Research' for the question period, among the given States, maximum percentage of population below the poverty line was in Bihar.

As per the latest estimates of Poverty released in July, 2013 by the Planning Commission, in the year 2011-12 the highest poverty ratio was in Chhattisgarh (39.93%). Poverty ratio in Jharkhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh was 36.96%, 33.74% and 31.65% respectively.

As per NITI Aayog's Report 'National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023', five States with highest multidimensional poverty headcount ratio in 2019- 21 were as follows: Bihar (33.76%), Jharkhand (28.81%), Meghalaya (27.79%), Uttar Pradesh (22.93%) and Madhya Pradesh (20.63%).

49. Assertion (A): Bihar is a backward State of the country. Reason (R): It is characterized by regional disparities in the level of development. [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Codes:

 

Correct Answer: (b) Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:Social, economical and political conditions of Bihar are the causes of backwardness of Bihar. Widespread income inequality, illiteracy, social stereotypes, lack of industries and businesses, and lack of political will power etc, are mainly responsible for the backwardness of Bihar. Regional disparities in the level of development are also present in Bihar. However it is not a cause of backwardness of Bihar but it is the result of that.

Hence, both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

50. As per the Planning Commission Report of 1999-2000 the highest percentage of people living below the poverty line was in: [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2002, Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2002, 2006, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2003, 2005, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002, U.P.P.S.C. (RI) 2014]

Correct Answer: (c) Odisha
Solution:As per the Planning Commission report of 1990-2000 the highest percentage of the people living below the poverty line was in Odisha (47.1%). As per the new estimates of poverty released by the Planning Commission in July, 2013 (Tendulkar methodology), States with highest poor population and with highest poverty percentage in the year 2011-12 are as follows:
Five States with Highest Poor PopulationFive States with Highest Poverty Percentage
StateNumber of poor (in lakh)StatePoverty Ratio (in%)
Uttar Pradesh598.19Chhattisgarh 39.93
Bihar 358.15 Jharkhand 36.96
Madhya Pradesh 234.06 Manipur 36.89
Maharashtra 197.92Arunachal Pradesh 34.67
W. Bengal 184.98Bihar 33.74
Total India 2697.83India 21.92

As per NITI Aayog's Report 'National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023, five States with highest multidimensional poverty headcount ratio in 2019- 21 were as follows: Bihar (33.76%), Jharkhand (28.81%). Meghalaya (27.79%), Uttar Pradesh (22.93%) and Madhya Pradesh (20.63%).