Poverty Line MCQs Quiz | Class 9

Overview of Poverty Line

In Class 9 Economics, the Poverty Line is a critical concept used to measure poverty based on income or consumption levels. A person is considered poor if their income or consumption falls below a given minimum level necessary to fulfill basic needs.

Determining the Poverty Line in India

In India, the poverty line is determined by a minimum level of food requirement (calories), clothing, footwear, fuel and light, educational and medical requirement, etc. These physical quantities are multiplied by their prices in rupees.

• Calorie Requirement: The accepted average calorie requirement in India is 2400 calories per person per day in rural areas and 2100 calories per person per day in urban areas.
• Why the difference? People living in rural areas engage in more physical work, hence their calorie requirement is higher than urban residents.
• Monetary Expenditure (2011-12 Data): Despite higher calorie needs, the monetary poverty line is often higher in urban areas because of high prices of many essential products.
  • Rural: Rs 816 per person per month.
  • Urban: Rs 1000 per person per month.

Key Agency

The survey for estimating the poverty line is conducted periodically (normally every 5 years) by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO).

Vulnerable Groups

Poverty is not distributed evenly. Social groups like Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), and economic groups like rural agricultural labour households and urban casual labour households are most vulnerable.

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