New Delhi, November 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Nearly 496 million Indians moved above the poverty threshold over 12 years, from 2011-12 to 2023-24, according to the World Bank’s latest assessment, cited in a report by Gulf Today.
The proportion of Indians living below the World Bank’s lower-middle-income poverty threshold of $4.20 a day declined from 57.7 per cent in 2011-12 to 16.1 per cent in 2023-24. Extreme poverty, measured at $3 a day, fell from 27.1 per cent to 2.6 per cent during the same period.
The report attributed the progress to several factors, including expanded banking access through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfers, subsidised food distribution, rural electrification, sanitation, infrastructure development and digital connectivity. Free food grain distribution to vulnerable households also helped protect families against food insecurity and economic shocks.
Economic growth provided an important foundation for these gains by creating resources for infrastructure, public services and social protection. The report noted that growth becomes more meaningful when its benefits reach historically excluded communities.
However, poverty remains a challenge. The World Bank estimates that around 35 million Indians continue to live in extreme poverty, while approximately 232 million remain below the broader $4.20-a-day threshold.
The report cautioned that crossing a poverty line does not necessarily ensure financial security. Families continue to face challenges related to healthcare expenses, education, insecure employment and inadequate housing.
India’s next challenge is to move from poverty alleviation towards lasting prosperity, requiring productive employment, stronger manufacturing, improved education, accessible healthcare and greater economic opportunities for women and young people, the report added.
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