Poverty Estimates – NCERT Economics Class 9 Chapter 3 Notes & PDF

Topic covered: Poverty Estimates and MCQs Questions: Poverty as a Challenge (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).

We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 9th about the “Poverty Estimates“ from the NCERT Economics notes for class 9th chapter 3 Poverty as a Challenge.

Download the NCERT Economics for Class 9th Chapter 3 Poverty as a Challenge Notes PDF

Chapter 3: Poverty as a Challenge in Class 9 Economics deals with one of the most pressing social issues in India. The chapter explains how poverty is measured, its causes, and the everyday struggles faced by poor households. Many students often find the terms like “social exclusion” or “vulnerability” tricky, so these notes break them down with examples that are easy to follow. You’ll also get a clear picture of government schemes and policies aimed at reducing poverty. Download the NCERT Economics for Class 9th Chapter 3 Poverty as a Challenge Notes PDF to revise key points quickly and confidently.

Poverty Estimates

1. Poverty Estimates in India:

• Poverty is measured using the Head Count Ratio (HCR) – the proportion of people below the poverty line.
• In the 1990s, consumption expenditure–based poverty declined from 45% to 37%, but the number of poor remained about 40 crores.
• From 2000–2011, both the proportion and the number of poor declined.
• Between 2015–2021, multidimensional poverty declined from 25% to 15%.
• 13.5 crore people escaped multidimensional poverty during this period.
• Deprivation levels have declined more sharply in rural areas than urban areas.

2. National Multidimensional Poverty Index (NMPI) – 12 Indicators by NITI Aayog

1. Nutrition – Deprived if child (0–59 months), woman (15–49 yrs), or man (15–54 yrs) is undernourished.
2. Child & Adolescent Mortality – Deprived if any child/adolescent (<18 yrs) has died in past 5 years.
3. Maternal Health – Deprived if woman giving birth in past 5 years did not get skilled medical assistance.
4. Years of Schooling – Deprived if no household member (10+ yrs) has completed 6 years of schooling.
5. School Attendance – Deprived if school-age child is not attending school up to required age.
6. Cooking Fuel – Deprived if uses dung, crop residue, shrubs, wood, charcoal, or coal.
7. Sanitation – Deprived if no sanitation or unimproved/shared facility.
8. Drinking Water – Deprived if no improved drinking water or source is ≥30 min round trip.
9. Housing – Deprived if floor/roof/wall made of natural or rudimentary materials.
10. Electricity – Deprived if household has no electricity.
11. Assets – Deprived if owns ≤1 basic asset (radio, TV, phone, computer, cart, bicycle, motorbike, fridge) and no car/truck.
12. Bank Account – Deprived if no member has a bank or post office account.

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE Economics Class 9 Chapter 3: Poverty as a Challenge

MCQs on NCERT Economics Class 9 Chapter 3 Topic – Poverty Estimates

Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “Poverty Estimates” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:

Question 1. The number and proportion of poor people in India is estimated using:

a) Human Development Index
b) Head Count Ratio (HCR)
c) Per capita income method
d) Poverty Gap Index

Answer: b) Head Count Ratio (HCR)

Question 2. During the 1990s, the proportion of consumption-expenditure based poor in India declined from:

a) 50% to 40%
b) 45% to 37%
c) 60% to 45%
d) 55% to 30%

Answer: b) 45% to 37%

Question 3. Despite the decline in poverty ratio during the 1990s, the number of poor remained around:

a) 20 crores
b) 25 crores
c) 30 crores
d) 40 crores

Answer: d) 40 crores

Question 4. Between 2000–2011 in India, which of the following trends was observed?

a) The proportion of poor declined but the number of poor increased
b) Both proportion and number of poor declined
c) The proportion increased but number remained constant
d) Both proportion and number of poor increased

Answer: b) Both proportion and number of poor declined

Question 5. The proportion of multidimensional poor during 2015–2021 in India declined from:

a) 35% to 20%
b) 45% to 37%
c) 25% to 15%
d) 30% to 18%

Answer: c) 25% to 15%

Question 6. According to official records, how many people escaped multidimensional poverty between 2015–2021?

a) 10.5 crore
b) 11.5 crore
c) 12.5 crore
d) 13.5 crore

Answer: d) 13.5 crore

Question 7. Decline in poverty and deprivation during 2015–2021 has been sharper in:

a) Urban areas
b) Rural areas
c) Both equally
d) Metropolitan areas only

Answer: b) Rural areas

Question 8. The National Multidimensional Poverty Index (NMPI) in India was evolved by:

a) Reserve Bank of India
b) NITI Aayog
c) Ministry of Finance
d) Census of India

Answer: b) NITI Aayog

Question 9. How many indicators are used in the NMPI?

a) 10
b) 12
c) 15
d) 20

Answer: b) 12

Question 10. Which of the following is a health indicator in NMPI?

a) Years of schooling
b) Nutrition
c) Cooking fuel
d) Housing

Answer: b) Nutrition

Question 11. A household is deprived in Nutrition if:

a) Any adult is unemployed
b) Any child (0–59 months), woman (15–49 yrs), or man (15–54 yrs) is undernourished
c) Household consumes only two meals a day
d) Family income is below poverty line

Answer: b) Any child (0–59 months), woman (15–49 yrs), or man (15–54 yrs) is undernourished

Question 12. A household is deprived in Child-Adolescent Mortality if:

a) No hospital is present in the village
b) Any child/adolescent under 18 years has died in last 5 years
c) Children are malnourished
d) Mother dies at childbirth

Answer: b) Any child/adolescent under 18 years has died in last 5 years

Question 13. A household is deprived in Maternal Health if:

a) Woman did not receive skilled medical assistance during childbirth in the last 5 years
b) No hospital is nearby
c) Women are undernourished
d) No female child goes to school

Answer: a) Woman did not receive skilled medical assistance during childbirth in the last 5 years

Question 14. A household is deprived in Years of Schooling if:

a) No adult completed six years of schooling
b) No child goes to college
c) No member attends private school
d) No female is educated

Answer: a) No adult completed six years of schooling

Question 15. A household is deprived in School Attendance if:

a) Children go to government schools only
b) Any school-aged child is not attending school
c) Girls are married early
d) School is far from home

Answer: b) Any school-aged child is not attending school

Question 16. A household is deprived in Cooking Fuel if:

a) It cooks with LPG or electricity
b) It cooks with dung, crops, shrubs, wood, charcoal, coal
c) It has no refrigerator
d) It spends more than half income on food

Answer: b) It cooks with dung, crops, shrubs, wood, charcoal, coal

Question 17. A household is deprived in Sanitation if:

a) No bathroom attached to house
b) Sanitation facility is unimproved or shared with others
c) It uses water for cleaning
d) Toilet is inside house

Answer: b) Sanitation facility is unimproved or shared with others

Question 18. A household is deprived in Drinking Water if:

a) Drinking water is salty
b) No access to improved source, or safe water is 30 minutes away (round trip)
c) Family uses water for farming
d) They do not boil drinking water

Answer: b) No access to improved source, or safe water is 30 minutes away (round trip)

Question 19. A household is deprived in Housing if:

a) House is rented
b) Roof, walls or floor made of rudimentary/natural materials
c) House is very small
d) House is not painted

Answer: b) Roof, walls or floor made of rudimentary/natural materials

Question 20. A household is deprived in Electricity if:

a) It has no refrigerator
b) It has no internet
c) It has no electricity
d) It has no fan

Answer: c) It has no electricity

Question 21. A household is deprived in Assets if:

a) It owns no more than one small asset like radio, TV, bicycle, etc. and no car/truck
b) It does not own gold or silver
c) It does not own land
d) It does not own a house

Answer: a) It owns no more than one small asset like radio, TV, bicycle, etc. and no car/truck

Question 22. A household is deprived in Bank Account if:

a) It has no savings
b) No member has a bank or post office account
c) Bank branch is far away
d) Loan is unpaid

Answer: b) No member has a bank or post office account