Key Findings:
Poverty rates declined significantly between 2011-12 and 2022-23:
Rangarajan Committee lines: 29.5% to 10% (1.77% points/year decline)
Tendulkar Committee lines: 21.9% to 3% (1.72% points/year decline)
Inequality in consumption expenditure decreased:
Rural Gini coefficient: 0.278 to 0.269 (0.009-point decline)
Urban Gini coefficient: 0.358 to 0.318 (0.04-point decline)
Data Comparability Issues:
Unit-level data vs. fact sheet data: Estimates based on the fact sheet (averages) might differ slightly from unit-level data (more accurate).
Changes in reference period: The NSSO uses different recall periods for data collection.
MMRP (Modified Mixed Reference Period) estimates might be more accurate but not directly comparable to previous years that used MRP (Mixed Reference Period).
Rangarajan committee poverty lines (2009-10, 2011-12) are comparable to 2022-23 estimates (both use MMRP).
Changes in methodology (2022-23): More items and multiple visits might improve estimates but hinder comparability with prior years.
Measurement Issues:
Poverty line definition:
Tendulkar Committee used an urban poverty line based on calorie norms (indirectly).
Rangarajan Committee defined a new poverty basket with a focus on adequate nutrition and essential non-food items.
Public expenditure: The HCES captures limited public spending on subsidized/free items, underestimating household well-being.
Limitations:
No single method for measuring poverty perfectly.
Higher poverty line cutoff results in a higher number of people classified as poor.
Overall:
The data suggests a significant decline in poverty and some decrease in inequality in India between 2011-12 and 2022-23.
However, data comparability issues and limitations in capturing public expenditure require consideration for a more nuanced understanding.
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