Class 9 Economics NCERT Chapter 3 – "Poverty as a Challenge," featuring 30 MCQs, 10 short answers, and 5 long questions with answers
30 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Which is the official body for estimating poverty in India?
a) Reserve Bank of India
b) Planning Commission / NITI Aayog
c) Finance Ministry
d) Election Commission
Answer: b) Planning Commission / NITI Aayog
Poverty is measured based on:
a) Annual income
b) Consumption expenditure
c) Savings rate
d) Size of family
Answer: b) Consumption expenditure
Who are the poorest of the poor?
a) Urban men
b) Elderly
c) Women, children and elderly
d) Rural landowners
Answer: c) Women, children and elderly
Which state has highest poverty in India (recent census)?
a) Kerala
b) Punjab
c) Odisha
d) Bihar
Answer: d) Bihar
As per recent data, poverty rate in India is:
a) Rising
b) Falling
c) Unchanged
d) Fluctuating heavily
Answer: b) Falling
The poverty line is determined based on:
a) Food consumption only
b) Clothing only
c) Food, clothing, and shelter
d) None of the above
Answer: c) Food, clothing, and shelter
Who are not considered poor in India?
a) Landless laborers
b) Urban casual workers
c) Industrial workers
d) Rural agricultural laborers
Answer: c) Industrial workers
Which program aims to generate wage employment for the poor?
a) MNREGA
b) GST
c) Ujjwala Yojana
d) Skill India
Answer: a) MNREGA
Which is NOT a social indicator of poverty?
a) Malnutrition
b) Illiteracy
c) Savings account
d) Lack of health care
Answer: c) Savings account
In urban areas, the poverty line is higher because:
a) Higher inflation rate
b) Better opportunities
c) Higher cost of living
d) Smaller family size
Answer: c) Higher cost of living
Who estimates poverty at the national level in India?
a) State Governments
b) NITI Aayog
c) World Bank
d) Census Department
Answer: b) NITI Aayog
The number of poor in India is largest in:
a) Urban areas
b) Rural areas
c) Metropolitan cities
d) Coastal regions
Answer: b) Rural areas
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are:
a) Most affected by poverty
b) Privileged classes
c) Only urban phenomenon
d) Decreasing in numbers
Answer: a) Most affected by poverty
Which program provides midday meals in schools?
a) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
b) MNREGA
c) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
d) PMGSY
Answer: c) Mid-Day Meal Scheme
India’s progress in reducing poverty since independence is:
a) Rapid
b) Very slow
c) Steady but slow
d) Declining
Answer: c) Steady but slow
People below poverty line lack:
a) Savings only
b) Access to basic necessities
c) Land
d) Employment only
Answer: b) Access to basic necessities
Poverty line in rural India is calculated at:
a) Fixed salary
b) Rs 40/day (example)
c) Rs 27-33/day (old estimate)
d) Rs 100/day
Answer: c) Rs 27-33/day (old estimate)
Which international body sets global poverty standards?
a) UNESCO
b) World Health Organization
c) World Bank
d) UNICEF
Answer: c) World Bank
Main causes of poverty include:
a) Rapid population growth
b) Low education
c) Unequal land distribution
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Which group has the lowest poverty ratio in India?
a) Urban casual workers
b) Rural agricultural laborers
c) Urban salaried employees
d) Migrant workers
Answer: c) Urban salaried employees
Which sector absorbs the poor more?
a) Primary (agriculture)
b) Secondary
c) Tertiary
d) IT sector
Answer: a) Primary
How does unemployment cause poverty?
a) Reduces income and consumption
b) Increases savings
c) Increases mobility
d) All of the above
Answer: a) Reduces income and consumption
MNREGA’s full form is:
a) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
b) Mega National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
c) Motor National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
d) Midday National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
Answer: a) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
Which state has lowest poverty ratio in India?
a) Kerala
b) Odisha
c) Maharashtra
d) Bihar
Answer: a) Kerala
The social exclusion aspect of poverty means:
a) Lack of social networks
b) Being left out of the mainstream
c) Major political representation
d) Exclusive clubs
Answer: b) Being left out of the mainstream
One feature of rural poverty is:
a) Small land holdings
b) Expensive lifestyle
c) High education levels
d) IT jobs
Answer: a) Small land holdings
Which indicates improvement in poverty conditions?
a) Lower infant mortality rate
b) Higher malnutrition
c) Higher illiteracy
d) Less social security
Answer: a) Lower infant mortality rate
Which aspect is included in multidimensional poverty?
a) Health services
b) Housing
c) Education
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Who determines the poverty line in India?
a) State governments
b) NITI Aayog
c) Private companies
d) NGOs
Answer: b) NITI Aayog
What is meant by absolute poverty?
a) Relative comparison
b) Not able to meet basic necessities
c) Having only friends
d) Being very rich
Answer: b) Not able to meet basic necessities
10 Short Answer Questions
Define poverty line.
Answer: Poverty line separates the poor from non-poor, based on minimum consumption/expenditure needed for life.
Name any two poverty alleviation programs in India.
Answer: MNREGA and Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
Mention two causes of poverty in India.
Answer: Rapid population growth and low levels of education.
What is social exclusion?
Answer: Social exclusion means being left out of the mainstream of society.
Who are considered ‘poor’ in rural India?
Answer: Landless agricultural laborers, small farmers, artisans.
How does unemployment contribute to poverty?
Answer: Leads to low income, reduced consumption, increased vulnerabilities.
Name any two social indicators of poverty.
Answer: Illiteracy and lack of health care.
Who are ‘poorest of the poor’?
Answer: Women, children and elderly, especially in rural areas.
State the role of NITI Aayog in poverty estimation.
Answer: Sets poverty line and estimates poverty at national level.
What is the significance of the poverty ratio?
Answer: Indicates the proportion of population below poverty line, helps assess and target policies.
5 Long Answer Questions
Discuss the major causes of poverty in India.
Answer: Poverty is caused by rapid population growth, unequal land distribution, low education levels, unemployment, and poor health care. Historical reasons, caste discrimination, and lack of industry also contribute.
Describe main poverty alleviation programs of Indian government.
Answer: Programs include MNREGA (wage employment), PMAY (housing), Mid-Day Meal Scheme (nutrition), and Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (self-employment). These aim to improve income, nutrition, and living conditions.
Explain the challenges in measuring poverty in India.
Answer: Challenges include accurate data collection, regional differences, changing consumption patterns, and multidimensional aspects of poverty (health, education, housing).
Analyze the trends in poverty since independence in India.
Answer: Poverty ratio has declined steadily but slowly due to economic growth, improved education, and targeted government schemes; yet, rural and social group disparities persist.
Suggest ways to reduce poverty effectively.
Answer: Include education, skill development, healthcare access, targeted welfare and employment programs, industrialization, and addressing social exclusion.
