What was the poverty rate in India in 2019-21, according to the India National Multidimensional Poverty Index, 2023?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (D) 14.96%

Explanation:

• According to the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2023, based on the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data for 2019–21, approximately 14.96% of India's population was multidimensionally poor.
• This represents a significant decline from 24.85% in 2015–16, indicating that about 135 million people escaped multidimensional poverty during this period.
• The MPI assesses poverty beyond income, considering deprivations in health, education, and standard of living.
• The Intensity of Poverty, which measures the average deprivation among those multidimensionally poor, decreased from 47.14% in 2015–16 to 44.39% in 2019–21.
• Rural areas witnessed a faster reduction in poverty, with the incidence falling from 32.59% to 19.28%, compared to urban areas where it declined from 8.65% to 5.27%.
• The report highlights that the fastest reductions in poverty were observed in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• These improvements are attributed to advancements in nutrition, education, sanitation, and access to cooking fuel.

Information Booster:

• The MPI value, which combines the incidence and intensity of poverty, nearly halved from 0.117 in 2015–16 to 0.066 in 2019–21.
• The MPI is a composite index developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), adapted for India by NITI Aayog.
• The MPI provides a more comprehensive understanding of poverty by capturing multiple deprivations experienced by individuals simultaneously.