Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions

Poverty as a challenge is a serious issue in India and many other developing countries. It shows a situation where people struggle to meet their basic needs, like food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, and education. In this chapter, we look at poverty not just as a lack of money but as a condition that impacts overall quality of life. We explore how social inequality, unemployment, and low literacy rates make the problem worse.

The government and various organizations are working hard to reduce poverty through programs that offer jobs, education, and support to vulnerable groups. By learning about Poverty as a challenge, students can see how poverty affects individuals and the country’s development. Studying poverty as a challenge encourages us to think critically and contribute to creating a more equal and self-sufficient India.

Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions

1. Introduction

Poverty is a situation where one cannot afford the basic needs due to a lack of money.

Poor people struggle for food, clothes, shelter, education, and healthcare.

Poverty is a serious problem in India.

It affects a large section of our population.

2. Two Ways of Understanding Poverty

(a) Social Perspective

Poverty is usually seen as a situation in which people are deprived of many things.

Poor people do not enjoy social equality or dignity.

(b) Income and Consumption Level

Poverty can be measured by a person’s income or consumption.

One who earns or spends less than a fixed sum is considered poor.

3. Poverty Line

The poverty line is the level of income that determines who is poor and who is not.

It is based on minimum needs for food, clothes, and shelter.

It is measured in terms of calories needed per day:

Rural areas: 2400 calories per person.

Urban areas: 2100 calories per person.

In 2011–12, the poverty line was about ₹816 per month in rural areas and ₹1000 per month in urban areas as per the government data.

4. Causes of Poverty

Low Level of Economic Development: The growth of India was slow in the past.

Unequal distribution of land and resources: the rich have more, the poor less.

High Population Growth – More people means more demand and fewer jobs.

Lack of Education – Poor people are unskilled and earn less.

5. Groups Most Affected by Poverty

Landless rural labourers.

Small and marginal farmers.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Urban daily wage earners and slum dwellers.

Women, children, and old people.

6. Global Poverty Scenario

Poverty is found in many developing countries like India, Bangladesh, and Africa.

Some countries like China have reduced poverty quickly. India also advances, yet poverty does still exist.

7. Anti-Poverty Measures in India

(a) Economic Growth

Growth in India has generated new employment and higher incomes.

MGNREGA, 2005

This provides employment for 100 days in rural areas.

Indira Awas Yojana:

It provides houses to poor families.

National Rural Livelihood Mission:

Assists women in forming self-help groups.

Mid-Day Meal Scheme:

Gives free lunch in school to reduce hunger, improves attendance.

8. Decline of Poverty in India

Economic reforms and rural development helped this decline.

9. Challenges Ahead

There is a need to reduce regional disparities in poverty.

The keys to removing poverty completely are education and skill development.

Poverty pertains not only to economic but also social issues.

It needs the involvement of the government, people, and society to end it.

Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions

Conclusion:

Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions help students understand one of the most important topics in Class 9 Economics. These notes explain the meaning, causes, and effects of poverty in a simple manner. They also show how government programs promise to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives.

By studying these notes, students strengthen their understanding of economic terms and concepts. The solved questions make revision easier and improve confidence before exams. They guide students in writing clear, accurate, and complete answers. Furthermore, these notes encourage young learners to think deeply about the social and economic issues that take place around them.

They build sensitivity about inequality and the need for development. Thus, Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions not only prepare students for exams but also inspire them to become responsible citizens who care about creating a just and equal society.

Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (A)

1. Which of the following best describes poverty?

A. Poverty and lack of basic needs
B. High income and education
C. Distributing the wealth equally
D. Availability of luxury goods

Answer: A. Lack of money and basic needs

2. The poverty line is measured in terms of —

A. Income and employment
B. Income and consumption level
C. Literacy and health

D. Savings and Income

Answer: B. Income and consumption level

3. What is the minimum calorie requirement for rural areas in India?

A. 2100 calories
B. 2400 calories

C. 1800 calories

D. 2000 calories

Answer: B. 2400 calories

4. In which year was the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act started?
A. 1999

B. 2001

C. 2005
D. 2010

Answer: C. 2005

5. Which group is most affected by poverty in India?

A. Big Farmers

B. Industrial workers
C. Rural landless labourers and small farmers
D. Government employees

Answer: C. Rural landless labourers and small farmers

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (B)

6. Which one of the following is an important cause of poverty in India?

A. Rapid industrialization
B. Unequal distribution of land and resources
C. High level of education
D. Exports go up. Answer:

Answer: B. Unequal distribution of land and resources

7. What was the poverty ratio of India, according to government estimates in 2011–12?

A. 45%

B. 30%

C. 22%

Answer: D. 15% Answer C. 22%

Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions

Short Answer Type Questions of 3 Marks With Answers (A)

1. Define poverty. Describe its main features.

Poverty is characterized by insufficient money to satisfy all basic needs for nourishment, clothes, shelter, education, and health care.

Main features:

Poor people live in kutcha houses or slums.

They are often unemployed or earn very low wages.

They are socially discriminated against and do not get fundamental facilities.

2. What is the poverty line? How is it determined in India?

Answer: The poverty line is the level of income that decides whether a person is poor or not.

It is determined based on the minimum nutritional requirement, which is 2400 calories per person per day in rural areas and 2100 calories in urban areas.

A poverty line is fixed by taking the income required to buy this food and other basic needs.

3. Provide three causes of poverty in India.

Answer: Unequal distribution of land: the wealth is held in the hands of a few people.

High population growth: This increases the pressure on limited resources and jobs.

Rural landless labourers: They depend on seasonal work.

Small and marginal farmers: Due to low earnings, crop losses are common.

Urban casual workers: Residing in slums and having irregular incomes.

5. Discuss how poverty is viewed as a social problem.

Answer: It is a social problem because poverty leads to inequality and lack of dignity.

This is because poor people cannot afford education and healthcare and hence always remain socially backward.

It prevents them from integrating into society fully and realizing their potential.

Short Answer Type Questions of 3 Marks With Answers (B)

6. What steps has the Indian government taken to reduce poverty?

Answer: Employment programmes: MGNREGA gives 100 days of employment in rural areas.

Housing schemes: Indira Awas Yojana provides housing to the poor families.

Self-help groups: NRLM encourages women to earn and save through SHGs.

7. What is MGNREGA? State its main features.

Answer: MGNREGA stands for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.

Main features:

Guarantees 100 days of employment in a year to rural households.

At least one-third of the jobs are reserved for women.

Provides wages through bank accounts to maintain transparency.

8. In what ways has economic growth contributed to poverty reduction in India?

Answer: Economic growth has resulted in more job opportunities and improved incomes.

It has allowed more investment in health, education, and rural development.

Consequently, the poverty rate of India declined from 45% in 1993–94 to 22% in 2011–12.

9. What are the remaining challenges to poverty reduction in India?

Answer: Education and healthcare are still inaccessible to many poor people.

Unemployment and underemployment remain major issues.

Regional inequalities persist between states and rural–urban areas.

10. How can education and skill development help in reducing poverty?

Answer: Education enhances knowledge and builds confidence to seek better employment opportunities.

Skill training enhances employability and productivity.

Put together, they help people make a decent income and break out of the poverty cycle.

Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions

Long Answer Type Questions of 5 Marks With Answers (A)

1. Describe the main causes of poverty in India.

Answer: Various elements have contributed to poverty in India:

Slow Economic growth: The growth of the Indian economy after independence was low, hence providing fewer jobs.

Unequal land distribution: the majority have small or no land whereas few owners have large farms.

Rapid population growth increases demand for food, jobs, and housing.

Unemployment: The majority of people are jobless or have low-wage jobs.

Lack of education: Illiteracy prevents the people from getting good jobs.

All these factors combined contribute to keeping the population in the poverty cycle.

2. Explain the two most common ways to measure poverty.

Answer: Poverty essentially can be measured in two ways:

Social Perspective:

It is viewed as a situation where individuals are deprived of basic needs and social equality.

Poor people lack dignity, education, and participation in society.

It is defined as the income or consumption being under a particular specified level, called the poverty line.

Both methods help the government to understand the extent of poverty and hence make suitable policies.

Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions

3. Explain the meaning of poverty line and how it is fixed in India.

Answer: The poverty line is the level of income that separates poor people from non-poor people.

It is fixed based on the minimum consumption required for basic living.

A person needs about 2400 calories per day in rural areas.

Urban areas are required to have 2100 calories per day.

The poverty line is decided by the cost of food, clothing, fuel, and shelter required to meet this requirement.

As per 2011–12 data, poverty line was ₹816 per person per month in rural areas and ₹1000 in urban areas.

4. Discuss the major features of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005.

Answer: Main features:

It provides a legal guarantee of 100 days of employment in a year to every rural household.

One-third of the jobs are reserved for women.

Wages are paid directly into bank accounts in order to avoid corruption.

In case work is not provided within 15 days, he is entitled to unemployment allowance.

The programme also helps in developing rural assets like ponds, roads, and wells.

It empowers the rural poor and gives them financial security.

5. How does poverty affect an individual’s life?

Answer: Poor people lack good food, clothes, and shelter.

They mostly suffer from diseases because of poor health care.

They cannot afford education for their children.

They also feel humiliated in society and face social discrimination.

The children in those families are forced into child labour rather than attending schools.

Thus, poverty pertains to every aspect of the life of an individual: economic, social, and emotional.

Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions

Q6. Describe the steps taken by the government to reduce poverty in India.

Answer: Poverty alleviation programmes initiated by the government include:

MGNREGA, 2005: Guarantees rural employment for 100 days.

PM Rozgar Yojana: This encourages poor people to start small businesses.

Indira Awas Yojana: Free houses are provided to poor families.

National Rural Livelihood Mission: To support women’s self-help groups.

Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Provides free meals in school to encourage education.

All these programs are designed to upgrade the living standards of poor people and make them self-sufficient.

7. Explain the decline of poverty in India after independence.

Answer: In 1973–74, roughly 55% of India’s population was below the poverty line.

It decreased to 22% in 2011–12 due to government policies and growth in the economy.

The Green Revolution improved agricultural productivity and rural income.

Industrial growth created new jobs and better wages.

Large-scale education, skill development, and welfare schemes helped many families rise above poverty.

In comparison with other countries, the proportion of poor people in India is still high.

8. Write a short note on poverty trends in India and the world.

Answer: In general, the percentage of people living in poverty has been declining over the years, especially in countries like China.

Poverty in India has declined from 45% in 1993–94 to about 22% in 2011–12.

While some states like Kerala, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu have reduced poverty faster, states like Bihar, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh still remain

predominantly poor.

Generally speaking, unemployment and inequality remain challenges for developing nations worldwide.

Thus, whereas this is so, poverty is still one of the global problems.

Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions

9. Why is poverty considered an economic and social problem?

Usually, poverty reduces the spending capability of an individual on food, cloth, and shelter.

It leads to low productivity and weakens national growth.

Socially, it leads to inequality, humiliation, and exclusion from society.

Poor people cannot receive good education or good healthcare.

It creates a cycle where poor families remain poor generation after generation.

Therefore, poverty is an economic and a social challenge to the general development of the nation.

10. Suggest any five ways to remove poverty from India.

Answer: Promote education: Education empowers people with knowledge and skills.

Employment opportunities can be increased by industrial as well as rural development.

Encourage self-help groups: they promote savings and small-scale income.

Control population growth: Fewer dependents will improve living standards.

Equitable distribution of wealth: Government should support weaker sections.

By following these steps, India can become a poverty-free and self-reliant nation.

Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions

Conclusion:

Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions helps students understand one of the most important topics in Class 9 Economics in a simple and meaningful way. These notes explain the meaning, causes, effects, and government efforts to remove poverty in India. By studying them, students clearly learn how poverty is not only an economic issue but also a social problem that affects millions of people. The solved questions strengthen conceptual understanding and guide students in writing accurate and well-structured answers in exams. They also make revision faster and more effective.

This chapter makes students aware of how poverty results in inequality, unemployment, and a lack of opportunity. At the same time, they understand the role of education, skill formation, and government programmes in reducing poverty. These notes raise responsible thinking in young minds about growth in terms of the nation’s well-being. Therefore, Poverty as a Challenge – Notes with Solved Questions not only prepare students for academic success but also inspire them to become compassionate citizens who contribute to building an equal, self-reliant, and poverty-free India.

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