Q. Consider the following statements:
1.The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) uses $2.15/day as an international poverty line.
2.In India, poverty is assessed by calculating the expenditure required to sustain a minimum calorie intake.
3.Bank accounts and maternal health are two exclusive indicators used in calculating India’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Explanations –
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The international poverty line is currently set at $2.15 per day, based on 2017 purchasing power parity (PPP). This benchmark is utilized by organizations like the UNDP to assess extreme poverty globally. India’s MPI includes 12 indicators, two of which—bank accounts and maternal health—are additions to the 10 indicators in the global MPI, reflecting India’s national priorities.
Statement 2 is incorrect. While earlier poverty assessments in India were based on calorie intake (e.g., 2,400 calories for rural and 2,100 for urban areas), modern methods like those of the Tendulkar and Rangarajan Committees have shifted to broader criteria, including essential goods and services, not just calorie intake.
Source: The Hindu
