Prof. Shamika Ravi

Based on the Rangarajan Poverty Line (which is higher than than Tendulkar line, hence more conservative): India has made unprecedented gains in poverty reduction in the last decade. Every state & UT has seen an impressive fall in their poverty rate. More than 30 Cr people have come out of poverty (~302M) since 2011-12 #Historic

Poverty in India has declined at unprecedented rates in the last 12 years. We have known this since 2024, and agree with the World Bank’s latest estimates. Listen to a chat on India’s real economy with a journalist who knows his numbers! @szarabi
youtu.be/oszWnEAd9U4?si…

Moving from data gaps to evidence-led governance, from national averages to district-level insights, and from reactive interventions to precisely targeted policymaking. The Cabinet’s approval of VISTAR, with an outlay of ₹4,371.10 crore, signals a shift towards a modern, AI-ready statistical ecosystem - expanding surveys, strengthening state-level data capabilities. #VISTAR @GoIStats 👏

pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDe…

Now that the poverty numbers have been accepted globally, here’s another common question from critics: If poverty has fallen so dramatically, why do 80 crore Indians receive food subsidies?

Because social protection is not the same as poverty alleviation!

Public social spending (% of GDP):
🇫🇮 Finland: 31.4%
🇩🇰 Denmark: 26.4%
🇸🇪 Sweden: 26.1%
🇳🇴 Norway: 24.1%
🇬🇧 UK: 23%

India spends just 0.6% on food subsidies.

A welfare state is not merely a poverty-relief programme. #ViksitBharat🇮🇳

Very proud moment 👌