New Delhi, Aug 12
India has recorded the fastest large-country poverty reductions in modern history, enabling more than 269 million people to escape extreme deprivation between 2011-12 and 2022-23 on the back of sustained economic growth, robust welfare systems, and the strategic use of technology, according to an India Narrative article.
India’s extreme poverty rate fell from 27.1 per cent to just 5.3 per cent during this period, and projections indicate that by 2025, the national extreme poverty rate could drop to 4-4.5 per cent, nearing complete eradication.
The rural transformation has been especially striking -- poverty fell from 18.4 per cent to 2.8 per cent -- reflecting both agricultural reforms and rural welfare schemes. Urban poverty declined from 10.7 per cent to 1.1 per cent, showcasing urban employment growth and better-targeted social protection.
Four states -- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan -- accounted for nearly two-thirds of the national poverty decline. Uttar Pradesh alone lifted close to 60 million people out of poverty, underscoring the significance of targeted interventions in historically poorer regions.
While monetary poverty is a key measure, deprivation often extends to health, education, and living standards. India’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) captures this broader reality.