Q. Poverty refers to:
A). Lack of good clothing only
B). Lack of sufficient income to meet basic needs
C). Being unemployed for a day
D). Having no formal education
Answer: B). Lack of sufficient income to meet basic needs
Explanation: Poverty is the state of inability to meet basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter.
Q. Among the following, which community is more vulnerable to poverty?
A). Scheduled Castes (SCs)
B). Scheduled Tribes (STs)
C). Casual Workers
D). All of the Above
Answer: D). All of the Above
Q. What is the average daily calorie requirement for a rural person in India?
A). 1600 calories
B). 1800 calories
C). 2400 calories
D). 2100 calories
Answer: C). 2400 calories
Explanation: Rural people require 2400 calories per day because they perform more physically intensive work and 2100 calories per person per day in urban areas.
Q. According to the 2011–12 poverty estimates, every — person in India is poor.
A). Fifth
B). Fourth
C). Sixth
D). Tenth
Answer: B). Fourth
Q. Poverty in India is mainly surveyed by:
A). NITI Aayog
B). National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
C). Election Commission of India
D). RBI
Answer: B). National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
Q. According to the 2011–12 poverty estimation, what was the poverty ratio in India?
A). 45%
B). 21.9%
C). 15%
D). 10.2%
Answer: B). 21.9%
Explanation: There is substantial decline in poverty ratios in India from about 45 per cent in 1993-94 to 37.2 per cent in 2004-05 and about 21.9 per cent in 2011-12.
Q. According to the poverty line in 2011–12, rural poor are those whose monthly expenditure is below — per person.
A). ₹900
B). ₹816
C). ₹1000
D). ₹1200
Answer: ₹816
Explanation: The poverty line for a person was fixed at Rs 816 per month for the rural areas and Rs 1000 for the urban areas.
Q. People living below the poverty line are those:
A). Who earn enough to satisfy all needs
B). Who earn less than the minimum required for basic necessities
C). Who are highly educated
D). Who own land
Answer: B). Who earn less than the minimum required for basic necessities
Explanation: The poverty line indicates the minimum income needed for basic necessities.
Q. Which of the following is a major cause of poverty?
A). Unequal distribution of resources
B). High literacy rate
C). Industrial growth
D). Technological advancement
Answer: A). Unequal distribution of resources
Explanation: Unequal distribution of land, wealth, and resources is a primary cause of poverty.
Q. Rapid population growth leads to poverty because:
A). It increases the number of productive workers
B). It spreads resources thin, leaving many poor
C). It improves health and education
D). It creates more jobs
Answer: B). It spreads resources thin, leaving many poor
Explanation: More people sharing limited resources increases poverty.
Q. Which among the following is a social cause of poverty?
A). Exploitation and discrimination
B). Industrialization
C). Technological growth
D). Investment in education
Answer: A). Exploitation and discrimination
Explanation: Social inequality and discrimination against certain groups worsen poverty.
Q. Which state in India has high poverty rates?
A). Kerala
B). Bihar
C). Goa
D). Punjab
Answer: B). Bihar
Explanation: Bihar has a high poverty rates (33.7%) followed by Orissa (32.6%) in 2011-12.
Q. Rural poverty is mainly due to:
A). Excessive industrialization
B). Landlessness
C). High wages
D). Urbanization
Answer: B). Landlessness
Explanation: Rural poverty arises from low productivity, unemployment, and small landholdings.
Q. Which is NOT considered while measuring poverty?
A). Income level
B). Consumption of basic necessities
C). Number of TVs owned
D). Health and nutrition
Answer: C). Number of TVs owned
Explanation: Ownership of luxury items like TVs is not used to measure poverty.
Q. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) aims to:
A). Provide urban jobs only
B). Provide 100 days of guaranteed wage employment
C). Offer free education
D). Promote industrial growth
Answer: B). Provide 100 days of guaranteed wage employment
Explanation: MGNREGA Act 2005, provides employment to rural households to reduce poverty.
Q. Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana was launched to provide employment to:
A). Large farmers
B). Educated unemployed youth
C). Government employees
D). Retired workers
Answer: B). Educated unemployed youth
Explanation: PMRY (1993) aimed to create self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth by providing financial assistance.
Q. The main objective of the Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) is to:
A). Provide free food grains
B). Create self-employment opportunities in rural areas
C). Provide higher education
D). Promote large-scale industries
Answer: B). Create self-employment opportunities in rural areas
Explanation: REGP aims to create self-employment in villages by supporting small and micro enterprises.
Q. Under SGSY, the primary strategy for poverty alleviation was:
A). Providing free houses
B). Formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
C). Urban job creation
D). Distribution of free land
Answer: B). Formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
Explanation: The programme offered a combination of bank loans and government subsidy to support rural self-employment.
Q. PMGY (2000) focuses primarily on:
A). Developing small-scale industries in cities
B). Rural development and basic amenities
C). Export promotion
D). Higher education for urban youth
Answer: B). Rural development and basic amenities
Explanation: The scheme aims to enhance health, drinking water, housing, and education facilities in rural areas.
Q. A target for creating 25 lakh new jobs every year was set under which Five Year Plan?
A). Seventh Five Year Plan
B). Eighth Five Year Plan
C). Ninth Five Year Plan
D). Tenth Five Year Plan
Answer: D). Tenth Five Year Plan
Q. Land reforms help reduce poverty by:
A). Redistributing land to landless farmers
B). Increasing industrial monopolies
C). Reducing education
D). Limiting employment
Answer: A). Redistributing land to landless farmers
Explanation: Fair land distribution increases productivity and income among rural poor.