MAINS 2015
GS2
12.5 marks
Though there have been several different estimates of poverty in India, all indicate reduction in poverty levels over time. Do you agree? Critically examine with reference to urban and rural poverty indicators.
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Examine whether all poverty estimates show a decline, comparing rural and urban indicators.
Critically examineWeigh the strengths and the weaknesses, then give a balanced verdict.
Demand-wise check
- 1Estimates: Lakdawala, Tendulkar, Rangarajan lines; all show decline though levels differ≈35 words
- 2Rural vs urban: rural poverty higher but falling faster; urban poverty rising share, slums, informal jobs≈35 words
- 3Critique: low poverty lines, consumption-only measure, data gaps (2017-18 survey withheld)≈35 words
- 4Multidimensional view: NITI MPI shows decline in health, education, living standards≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Different methodsRural and urban figuresCritique of measurementMultidimensional evidenceConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Not separating rural and urban figures
- Not questioning methods though asked to 'critically examine'
Draw this
- Table of poverty ratios by committee, rural and urban
Value addition
- DataTendulkar method: 21.9% poor in 2011-12 (rural 25.7%, urban 13.7%); Rangarajan: 29.5% (rural 30.9%, urban 26.4%).Planning Commission, 2014
- DataNITI Aayog's MPI: headcount fell from 24.85% (2015-16) to 14.96% (2019-21), about 13.5 crore people.NITI Aayog, 2023
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 15 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 15 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 11 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 38 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
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