India's Remarkable Progress: Millions Escape Poverty in 5 Years

A government report in India has revealed that nearly 135 million people, approximately 10% of the country's population, escaped poverty between 2016 and 2021. The study, which utilized the United Nations' Multidimensional Poverty Index, found that rural areas experienced the most significant decline in poverty. Factors such as improved nutrition, education, sanitation, and access to cooking fuel were cited as key contributors to this progress. The percentage of the population living in poverty decreased from 25% in 2015/16 to 15% in 2019-21. Additionally, a recent report by the United Nations Development Programme indicated that the number of people living in multidimensional poverty in India fell from 55% in 2005 to 16.4% in 2021.