India's Remarkable Decline in Extreme Poverty: A Decade of Progress Under Modi

Significant Reduction in Extreme Poverty

New Delhi: Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has achieved a remarkable milestone in reducing extreme poverty, with the rate dropping to 5.3% in 2022-23 from 27.1% in 2011-12, according to the latest data from the World Bank.

In 2022-23, approximately 75.24 million individuals were classified as living in extreme poverty, a significant decrease from 344.47 million in 2011-12.

This data indicates that around 269 million people have been lifted out of extreme poverty over the past 11 years.

States such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh, which represented 65% of India's extreme poor in 2011-12, accounted for two-thirds of the overall reduction in extreme poverty by 2022-23.

The World Bank's findings reveal that the number of people living in extreme poverty has decreased from 344.47 million to just 75.24 million.

Using the $3.00 per day international poverty line (adjusted for 2021 prices), the assessment shows a widespread reduction in poverty across both rural and urban settings.

When considering the previous poverty line of $2.15 per day (based on 2017 prices), only 2.3% of Indians were found to be living in extreme poverty, a significant drop from 16.2% in 2011-12, as per the World Bank's estimates.

The latest data indicates that the number of individuals living below the $2.15-per-day threshold was recorded at 33.66 million in 2022, down from 205.93 million in 2011.

The data also highlights a consistent decline, with rural extreme poverty decreasing from 18.4% to 2.8% and urban extreme poverty falling from 10.7% to 1.1% over the last 11 years.

Additionally, India has made significant strides in reducing multidimensional poverty.

The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) fell from 53.8% in 2005-06 to 16.4% by 2019-21, and further decreased to 15.5% in 2022-23, according to the data.

As the BJP-led NDA government marks 11 years in power, PM Modi has emphasized the transformative measures taken by the government to uplift citizens from poverty, focusing on empowerment, infrastructure, and inclusion.

Initiatives such as PM Awas Yojana, PM Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, and Ayushman Bharat have improved access to housing, clean cooking fuel, banking services, and healthcare.

The implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), digital inclusion, and a strong rural infrastructure has ensured transparency and expedited the delivery of benefits to the most vulnerable, aiding over 250 million people in overcoming poverty.