Consider the following statements:

1. The Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was developed in 2008 by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme and is used alongside the HDI.

2. According to the MPI, in India, the largest number of people living in multidimensional poverty are found in Bihar.

3. The Gender Inequality Index (GII) is a part of the HDI report, which reflects gender-based inequalities in three dimensions – reproductive health, empowerment, and the labor market.

Which of the statements above is/are correct?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is: (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect – The Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was developed in 2010, not 2008, by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

• Statement 2 is correct – According to the MPI, Bihar does indeed have the largest number of people living in multidimensional poverty in India, due to deprivations in education, health, and living standards.

• Statement 3 is correct – The Gender Inequality Index (GII) is indeed a part of the Human Development Report (HDR) and measures gender-based inequalities in the areas of reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation.

Information Booster:
• MPI (2010) uses health, education, and standard of living indicators to assess poverty.
• Bihar ranks the highest in multidimensional poverty, particularly due to lack of access to basic education and healthcare.
• GII highlights gender disparities in areas like maternal mortality, female labor force participation, and political representation.
• The Gender Inequality Index reflects how women's rights and opportunities are limited compared to men in various societies.
• Both MPI and GII provide a broader measure of development compared to traditional income-based poverty measures.

Additional Information:
• The MPI is an integrated poverty measure, unlike income poverty which focuses only on monetary aspects.
• GII measures the cost of gender inequality for countries in terms of their economic and social development.
• The HDI includes life expectancy, education, and income, while the GII is a more specific measure focusing on gender-based deprivations.