Poverty As Seen by Social Scientists – NCERT Economics Class 9 Chapter 3 Notes & PDF 

Topic covered: Poverty As Seen by Social Scientists 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 As Seen by Social Scientists“ 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 As Seen by Social Scientists

1. Poverty As Seen by Social Scientists:

• Poverty is a multidimensional issue with many facets.
• Social scientists use a variety of indicators to study poverty.
• Traditionally, indicators are linked to income and consumption levels.
• In recent times, other indicators are also used to identify poverty.

2. National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI):

• Calculated on the basis of three broad categories:
  a. Health indicators – nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health.
  b. Education indicators – years of schooling, school attendance.
  c. Standard of living indicators – cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, housing, electricity, assets, bank account.

Social Exclusion

1. Social Exclusion and Poverty:

• Poverty can also be understood through the concept of social exclusion.
• Poor people are often forced to live only among other poor people, excluded from better surroundings.
• Social exclusion = lack of social equality with the better-off sections.
• It can be both a cause and a consequence of poverty.
• Defined as a process where individuals or groups are denied facilities, benefits, and opportunities that others enjoy.
• Example in India: The caste system excludes certain groups from equal opportunities.
• Impact: Social exclusion may cause greater damage than low income alone, as it perpetuates inequality and lack of opportunities.

Vulnerability

1. Vulnerability and Poverty:

• Vulnerability to poverty = measure of the higher probability of certain communities or individuals becoming/remain poor.
• Examples:
  a. Communities – backward castes.
  b. Individuals – widows, physically handicapped persons.
• Determinants of vulnerability:
  a. Assets available.
  b. Level of education.
  c. Health status.
  d. Job opportunities.
• Vulnerable groups face greater risks during natural disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis).
• It also depends on their social and economic ability to cope with such risks.
• Vulnerability means being more adversely affected than others during crises like floods, earthquakes, or job scarcity.

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 As Seen by Social Scientists

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

Question 1. Social scientists study poverty using:

a) Only income levels
b) Only consumption levels
c) Variety of indicators
d) Industrial output

Answer: c) Variety of indicators

Question 2. The National Multidimensional Poverty Index is calculated on the basis of:

a) Only income and consumption
b) Health, education, and standard of living
c) Literacy and employment only
d) Housing and electricity only

Answer: b) Health, education, and standard of living

Question 3. Which of the following is not a health indicator of the National MPI?

a) Nutrition
b) Child and adolescent mortality
c) Maternal health
d) Literacy rate

Answer: d) Literacy rate

Question 4. Years of schooling and school attendance are examples of:

a) Health indicators
b) Education indicators
c) Standard of living indicators
d) Social exclusion indicators

Answer: b) Education indicators

Question 5. Which of the following is included under standard of living indicators?

a) Sanitation, drinking water, housing, electricity
b) Mortality, nutrition, maternal health
c) Years of schooling, school attendance
d) Unemployment rate, inflation

Answer: a) Sanitation, drinking water, housing, electricity

Question 6. Along with income and consumption, poverty is also analysed using:

a) Social exclusion and vulnerability
b) GDP and per capita income
c) Agriculture and industry growth
d) Tax collection and subsidies

Answer: a) Social exclusion and vulnerability

Question 7. According to the concept of social exclusion, poverty is seen as:

a) Lack of income only
b) Poor living only in poor surroundings and excluded from social equality
c) Absence of government jobs
d) Lack of natural resources

Answer: b) Poor living only in poor surroundings and excluded from social equality

Question 8. Social exclusion can be:

a) Only a cause of poverty
b) Only a consequence of poverty
c) Both a cause and a consequence of poverty
d) Neither cause nor consequence

Answer: c) Both a cause and a consequence of poverty

Question 9. A typical example of social exclusion in India is:

a) Caste system
b) Green Revolution
c) Urbanisation
d) Industrialisation

Answer: a) Caste system

Question 10. Why is social exclusion considered more damaging than low income?

a) Because it only affects rural areas
b) Because it denies people equal opportunities and benefits
c) Because it reduces agricultural production
d) Because it lowers tax revenue

Answer: b) Because it denies people equal opportunities and benefits

Question 11. Vulnerability to poverty describes:

a) Probability of people moving out of poverty
b) Probability of certain communities or individuals becoming or remaining poor
c) Government’s capacity to remove poverty
d) Only economic inequality

Answer: b) Probability of certain communities or individuals becoming or remaining poor

Question 12. Which of the following groups is more vulnerable to poverty?

a) Government officials
b) Businessmen
c) Widows and physically handicapped persons
d) Urban middle class

Answer: c) Widows and physically handicapped persons

Question 13. Vulnerability is determined by:

a) Assets, education, health, and job opportunities
b) Rate of inflation and GDP growth
c) Agriculture and industries
d) Imports and exports

Answer: a) Assets, education, health, and job opportunities

Question 14. Vulnerability is also analysed on the basis of:

a) Political awareness
b) Risk faced during natural disasters
c) Military strength
d) Tax policies

Answer: b) Risk faced during natural disasters

Question 15. Vulnerability shows the probability of being more adversely affected than others when:

a) Festivals are celebrated
b) Disasters or job scarcity occur
c) Industrialisation spreads
d) Elections are held

Answer: b) Disasters or job scarcity occur