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Topic

Poverty line

Asked 6 times across 3 UPSC exams over 10 years (2014–2024), peaking in 2024.
6
PYQs
3
Exams
5
Years active
2014–2024
Span
2024
Peak
5/6
Answers
📅 Full chronological timeline →

Key insights

  • Most tested in CDS — 4 of 6 PYQs
  • First appeared in CDS 20145 years before CSE 2019 (allied exams preview CSE)
  • Most asked in 2024
  • Recurs across 5 years (2014–2024)

How it travelled across exams

First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CDS 2014 CSE 2019 GEO 2021

How the concept evolved

114
119
121
123
224
Rising — more than half its appearances (5 of 6) are since 2016.

Related concepts

Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.

Sample questions

You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2024

The Rangarajan Committee methodology for determining the poverty line incorporated which of the following ?

  1. A food component
  2. A normative level of expenditure for essential non-food items
  3. A behaviourally determined expenditure for other non-food items Select the answer

using the code given below :

  1. A 1 and 2 only
  2. B 2 and 3 only
  3. C 1, 2 and 3 ✓
  4. D 1 and 3 only
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Economy › Poverty/Employment/Inclusion
CDS2024

Which of the following statements with regard to the Report of Tendulkar Committee (2009) on poverty estimates is/are correct?

  1. The Committee had used an all-India urban poverty line basket as a reference to derive both rural and urban poverty levels
  2. The Committee had anchored the poverty line to the official food calorie norms

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A 1 only ✓
  2. B 2 only
  3. C Both 1 and 2
  4. D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Economy › Poverty/Employment/Inclusion
CDS2023

Consider the following statements regarding poverty in India

  1. While determining poverty line in India, a minimum level of food requirement, clothing, footwear, fuel and light, educational and medical requirements, etc. are determined for subsistence
  2. The accepted average calorie requirement in India is 2400 calories per person per day in rural areas and 2100 calories per person per day in urban areas

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C Both 1 and 2 ✓
  4. D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Economy › Poverty/Employment/Inclusion

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