BS Number Wise: Here's why India's poverty estimates are problematic

Traditional estimates of poverty in the country rely on indicators that are outdated or inaccurate

Ishaan Gera | New Delhi
Last Updated at November 10, 2022 22:53 IST

BS Number Wise: Here's why India's poverty estimates are problematic

The World Bank’s measurement shows that extreme poverty — people living on less than $2.15 daily in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) — declined by 57 million between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

Separate reports say India’s poverty reduced by 50 million or 140 million in the last five years, strengthening the government’s claims about its policies. The feel-good numbers don’t hide this though: the way India counts the poor is problematic.

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