How Did India Lift 269 Million People Out of Extreme Poverty Over 11 Years?

New Delhi, June 7 (NationPress) In a remarkable achievement under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary leadership, India has significantly reduced its extreme poverty rate over the past decade. According to the latest World Bank data, this rate decreased to 5.3 percent in 2022–23 from 27.1 percent in 2011–12.

During the period of 2022–23, around 75.24 million individuals were living in extreme poverty in India, a dramatic decline from 344.47 million in 2011–12.

This data indicates that approximately 269 million individuals were lifted out of extreme poverty over nearly 11 years.

States such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh, which represented 65 percent of India's extreme poor in 2011–12, contributed to two-thirds of the overall decline in extreme poverty by 2022–23.

In absolute numbers, the population living in extreme poverty plummeted from 344.47 million to only 75.24 million, as per the latest findings from the World Bank.

The World Bank's assessment, based on the $3.00 per day international poverty line (using 2021 prices), highlights a widespread reduction in poverty across both rural and urban regions.

Using the earlier poverty line of $2.15 daily consumption (based on 2017 prices), the proportion of Indians living in extreme poverty stands at 2.3 percent, significantly lower than 16.2 percent in 2011-12, according to the World Bank's estimates.

The number of individuals living below the $2.15-per-day poverty threshold is recorded at 33.66 million in 2022, down from 205.93 million in 2011, based on the latest data.

This substantial reduction has been consistent, with rural extreme poverty dropping from 18.4 percent to 2.8 percent and urban extreme poverty decreasing from 10.7 percent to 1.1 percent over the last 11 years.

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

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

As the BJP-led NDA government marks 11 years in office, PM Modi has emphasized the transformative measures adopted by the Centre to uplift people from poverty and focus 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, and healthcare.

The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), digital inclusion, and a robust rural infrastructure have ensured transparency and expedited delivery of benefits to the last mile, assisting over 25 crore people in overcoming poverty.