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India's extreme poverty falls from 27.1% to 2.6% (2011–2023) – World Bank Poverty and Equity Brief

30 October 2026 · English Economy & Banking

India's extreme poverty falls from 27.1% to 2.6% (2011–2023) – World Bank Poverty and Equity Brief

Topics: Economy · Poverty · 30 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

The World Bank's October 2026 Poverty and Equity Brief on India says extreme poverty fell from 27.1% in 2011 to 2.6% in 2023 – one of the fastest declines in the world – with about 496 million people moving out of poverty in that period. At the lower-middle-income line of $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), poverty fell from 57.7% to 16.1%, and is projected (indicative estimate) at 14.2% in 2026 and 12.1% by 2028. Consumption growth, jobs (largely rural women) and social transfers such as food assistance are cited as drivers. The brief also flags concerns: real earnings broadly flat, jobs mostly in low-productivity sectors, and youth unemployment up from 14.6% (Q1 FY26) to 15.9% (Q1 FY27).

Key facts

ReportWorld Bank – Poverty and Equity Brief (India), October 2026
Extreme poverty27.1% (2011) to 2.6% (2023)
Poverty linesInternational extreme-poverty line $3.00 a day (2021 PPP, since June 2025); lower-middle-income line $4.20
At $4.20 a day57.7% (2011) to 16.1% (2023); projected 14.2% (2026), 12.1% (2028)
People liftedAbout 496 million (2011–2023)
MultidimensionalOPHI MPI 53.8% (2005-06) to 16.4% (2019-21); World Bank measure 15.5% (2022-23)
ConcernsAbout 57% of the poor in the UP–West Bengal belt; youth unemployment 15.9%

Background

  • In June 2025 the World Bank moved the international poverty line from $2.15 (2017 PPP) to $3.00 (2021 PPP); India's extreme poverty was then put at 5.3% for 2022-23.
  • Poverty estimates in India use the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) of the NSO (Ministry of Statistics).
  • Official Indian poverty line: Tendulkar Committee (2009) – 21.9% in 2011-12; the Rangarajan Committee (2014) report was not adopted.
  • NITI Aayog's multidimensional poverty estimate: about 24.82 crore people moved out between 2013-14 and 2022-23 (discussion paper, Jan 2024).

Tamil Nadu link: In NITI Aayog's National MPI (2023), Tamil Nadu is among the states with the lowest multidimensional poverty (about 2.2% in 2019-21).

Source: World Bank Poverty and Equity Brief (Oct 2026) – ANI, DD News, The Tribune, 30 Oct 2026; News on AIR (June 2025); NITI Aayog National MPI 2023

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