QUESTION 7
GS2
10 marks
There is a growing divergence in the relationship between poverty and hunger in India. The shrinking of social expenditure by the government is forcing the poor to spend more on non-food essential items squeezing their food-budget. Elucidate.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Explain how poverty and hunger have diverged and why lower social spending squeezes food budgets of the poor.
ElucidateExplain the statement clearly and bring out its meaning with examples.
Demand-wise check
- 1Divergence: falling income poverty but persistent malnutrition and low calorie intake≈30 words
- 2Mechanism: rising out-of-pocket spending on health, education, transport crowds out food≈30 words
- 3Evidence: NSSO consumption share of food declining, nutrition indicators stagnant≈30 words
- 4Measures: public provision of health and education, PDS diversification≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Divergence evidenceMechanismDataMeasuresConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Only defining poverty and hunger
- No mechanism
Draw this
- Household budget pie: food vs non-food
Value addition
- DataHCES 2023–24: food's share of monthly spending fell to about 47% in rural and 40% in urban areas.MoSPI HCES 2023–24
- ThinkerDeaton and Drèze (2009) documented falling calorie intake despite rising incomes.Economic and Political Weekly, 2009
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.