Official Estimates of Poverty in India: Methodological and Database Debates

The measurement and aggregation of poverty acts as a much-debated and controversial issue among policymakers and development thinkers. Official poverty estimation at national and international levels is generally made concerning individuals based on family or household income measures. Selection of indicators, unit of analysis, and the subsequent aggregation of the number of poor are complex problems for the authorities. Historically, the concept of poverty has shifted significantly from simply focusing on nutritional inadequacies to a broader understanding that includes various dimensions of human existence. This article explores the changes that occurred in the poverty measurement front of India with a particular focus on database debates and official poverty trends and patterns.