NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Economics Chapter 3 Poverty as a Challenge
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Economics Chapter 3 covers Two Typical Cases of Poverty, Poverty Line, Social Exclusion, Vulnerability, Causes of Poverty, and Anti-Poverty Measures in India.
Overview of Topics & Subtopics (Click to Jump)
1. Concept of Poverty & Poverty Line
Short Note:
• Poverty: A state in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living (food, clothing, shelter, health, education).
• Poverty Line: A benchmark used to measure poverty based on minimum income or consumption levels.
• Calorie Norms: 2400 calories per person/day in rural areas and 2100 calories per person/day in urban areas.
• Social Exclusion: A process through which individuals or groups are excluded from facilities, benefits, and opportunities that others enjoy (e.g., caste discrimination).
• Vulnerability: A measure describing the greater probability of certain communities (e.g., SC/ST) or individuals (widows, disabled) becoming or remaining poor.
2. Vulnerable Groups & Regional Disparities
Short Note:
• Social Groups Vulnerable to Poverty: Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) households.
• Economic Groups Vulnerable to Poverty: Rural agricultural labour households and urban casual labour households.
• Inter-State Disparities: States like Bihar and Odisha remain the poorest, whereas Punjab, Haryana, Kerala, and West Bengal have seen significant declines in poverty due to agricultural growth, human resource investment, and land reforms.
3. Causes of Poverty & Anti-Poverty Measures
Short Note:
• Causes of Poverty: Low economic growth during colonial rule, high population growth, uneven distribution of land and assets, socio-cultural factors, and indebtedness.
• Anti-Poverty Strategy (Two Planks):
1. Promotion of Economic Growth.
2. Targeted Anti-Poverty Programmes:
• MGNREGA (2005): Guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households.
• PMRY (Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana): Aims to create self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth.
• PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana), AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana).
Intext & Conceptual Questions
• Definition: The poverty line is an estimated threshold of minimum income or consumption necessary to fulfill basic human needs.
• Estimation Criteria in India:
1. Calorie Requirement: 2400 calories/person/day in rural areas and 2100 calories/person/day in urban areas.
2. Monetary Threshold: The calorie intake is converted into monetary value along with basic non-food requirements (clothing, footwear, fuel, light, education, and medical needs) using survey data collected periodically by the NSSO (National Sample Survey Office).
• Economic Groups: Rural agricultural labor households and urban casual labor households.
Textbook Chapter End Exercise Questions
1. In India, a minimum level of food requirement, clothing, footwear, fuel and light, educational and medical requirement etc. are determined for subsistence.
2. The daily requirement of calories is 2400 calories per person in rural areas (due to higher physical work) and 2100 calories per person in urban areas.
3. The total expenditure required to buy these items is calculated periodically by conducting sample surveys through the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
1. Colonial Exploitation: Ruin of traditional handicrafts and slow industrial growth under British rule.
2. High Population Growth: Rapid growth of population leads to low growth rate of per capita income.
3. Unequal Asset Distribution: Lack of land resources among rural landless laborers.
4. Unemployment & Indebtedness: High unemployment in urban and rural areas forcing small farmers to borrow money at exorbitant interest rates.
1. Guaranteed Employment: Provides at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
2. Women Reservation: One-third of the proposed jobs are reserved for women.
3. Unemployment Allowance: If the government fails to provide employment within 15 days of application, an unemployment allowance is given to the applicant.
4. Sustainable Development: Focuses on works that address causes of drought, deforestation, and soil erosion.
Read More & Chapter Resources
These short notes are designed for quick revision. Read the main points once, then use the related material below to practise the same chapter. Revising a concept and checking it with questions can make your preparation more focused.