Question

Which of the following is constituted to estimate poverty in India ?

• A. Rangarajan Committee
• B. Karve Committee
• C. Narasimham Committee
• D. Kothari Committee

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Rangarajan Committee

Poverty Estimation in India

• NITI Aayog (formerly Planning Commission) is the nodal agency responsible for the calculation of poverty lines in India.

• Poverty estimation in India is primarily based on the recommendations of various expert groups appointed over the decades:

  1. Alagh Committee (1979): First to define the poverty line based on nutritional requirements (2400 kcal in rural and 2100 kcal in urban areas).

  2. Lakdawala Committee (1993): Suggested that the poverty line should be based on the consumption expenditure pattern using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

  3. Tendulkar Committee (2009): Shifted the focus from calories to a uniform poverty line basket (PLB) and included expenditure on health and education.

  4. Rangarajan Committee (2014): Recommended a higher consumption limit for poverty estimation compared to the Tendulkar Committee.

• Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): Currently, India tracks poverty through the National MPI published by NITI Aayog, which aligns with the global methodology developed by the UNDP and OPHI.

• The MPI evaluates poverty based on three dimensions: Health, Education, and Standard of Living, utilizing 12 specific indicators.

• Data for these estimates is largely derived from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) through its periodic Household Consumer Expenditure Surveys.