UPSC CSE Prelims
Poverty Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — price levels vary from State to State

The official poverty line in India is determined by the cost of a basket of essential goods and services required to meet basic needs. Since the prices of these essential commodities vary significantly across different states due to regional economic conditions, transportation costs, and local market dynamics, the poverty line must be adjusted accordingly. States with higher price levels for essential goods naturally have a higher official poverty line to ensure that the threshold reflects the actual cost of living in that region.

📝 Short Notes: Poverty Line in India

• Definition: The poverty line represents the minimum level of income deemed adequate to secure the necessities of life in a country.
• Methodology: Calculated based on the cost of a consumption basket that includes food, clothing, fuel, and other essential items.
• State-wise Variation: Different states have different poverty lines primarily due to variations in price levels (Cost of Living Index).
• Tendulkar Committee (2009): Recommended shifting from calorie-based norm to consumption expenditure-based approach, considering both food and non-food items.
• Rangarajan Committee (2014): Further revised methodology suggesting higher poverty lines than Tendulkar Committee, accounting for health and education expenses.
• Current Approach: Poverty estimates are based on consumption expenditure data from NSSO surveys, adjusted for state-specific price indices.
• Not Based On: Poverty rates, Gross State Product, or quality of public distribution systems do not determine the poverty line itself—these are outcomes or separate indicators.