Chapter

Poverty as a Challenge
3
Multiple Choice Questions
1. __________ has the lowest per capita income. (a) Landless labour (c) Urban area
(a) Kerala (c) Haryana (b) Big farmer (d) None of the above
(b) Bihar (d) West Bengal Ans. (a) Landless labour
Ans. (b) Bihar 7. What does this picture show?
2. Poverty in Kerala declined significantly due to:
(a) large industries
(b) availability of natural resources
(c) development of human resources
(d) none of the above
Ans. (c) development of human resources
3. Percentage of poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2015
was:
(a) 51 (c) 30
(b) 41 (d) 47
Ans. (b) 41
4. When was Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act initiated? [NCERT] (a) Urban case of poverty
(a) 2005 (c) 1990 (b) Rural case of poverty
(b) 2000 (d) 1993 (c) Both (a) and (b)
Ans. (a) 2005 (d) None of these
5. Study the picture and answer the question that follows: Ans. (a) Urban case of poverty
 [NCERT] 8. What does this picture show? [NCERT]

Which of the following aspects best signifies this (a) Poverty line (c) Social exclusion
image? (b) Poverty (d) None of these
(a) Poverty (c) Illiteracy Ans. (c) Social exclusion
(b) Population (d) All of the above 9. Which of the following is not a dimension of Poverty?
Ans. (a) Poverty (a) Hunger and lack of shelter
6. Which of the following options best signifies the (b) Lack of clean water and sanitation facilities
picture? [NCERT] (c) Lack of property among people
(d) Lack of a regular job at a minimum decent level
Ans. (c) Lack of property among people
10. Which of the following options does not define the
concept “Social Exclusion”.
(a) The poor have to live only in a poor surrounding.
(b) The poor are excluded from enjoying social equality.
(c) The poor are excluded from facilities, benefits and
opportunities that others enjoy.
(d) The poor are excluded from getting job.
Ans. (d) The poor are excluded from getting job.

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Fill in the Blanks

35. In India, percentage of poverty in urban areas is 39. Poverty change in India and world are illustrated
___________ than poverty in rural areas. [NCERT] through the concept of _____________ .

Ans. lesser Ans. poverty line

40. India has the ________ number of poor people in the
36. Poverty declined substantially in China and Southeast
world.
Asian countries as a result of___________.
Ans. largest
Ans. rapid economic growth and massive investments in 41. The calorie requirement for a person living in the urban
human resource development. areas in India is _______ calories.
37. With the spread of irrigation and the Green Revolution, Ans. 2100
____________. [NCERT] 42. The poverty line in the rural areas was fixed at `________
Ans. many job opportunities were created in the agriculture in 2011-2012.
sector. Ans. 816
38. States like Punjab and Haryana have traditionally 43. The full form of the NSSO is ____________.
succeeded in reducing poverty with the help of Ans. National Sample Survey Organisation
___________. 44. The full form of HCR is _________.
Ans. high agricultural growth rates. Ans. Head Count Ratio

True or False
45. There is a significant decline in poverty in states like 50. According to the data of 2011-2012 there are almost
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. 27 crore poor people in the nation.
Ans. True Ans. True
46. Every second person in India lives in poverty. [NCERT] 51. The poverty line in India is based on the level of income
or consumption level of an individual.
Ans. False
Ans. True
47. Millennium Development Goals for reducing poverty is
52. The calorie requirement for a person living in the urban
the plan of Government of India.
area is 2400 calories.
Ans. False Ans. True
48. There is a strong linkage between economic growth 53. World Bank uses a variable method for calculating
and poverty reduction. poverty for different nations.
Ans. True Ans. False
49. One fourth of the total population in India is poor. 54. Bihar and Odisha are the two poorest state in India.
Ans. True Ans. True

Match the Following

55. Column A Column B (3) Hunger and malnutrition (c) Impact of poverty

(1) Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (a) 1999 (4) Scheduled Caste (d) Increase in real
and Scheduled Tribe output of a country
(2) Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (b) 1993 households
(3) Rural Employment Generation (c) 2000 Ans. (1)-(d), (2)-(a), (3)-(c), (4)-(b)
Programme
57. Column A Column B
(4) Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar (d) 1995
(1) Poverty Line (a) Urban Poverty
Yojana
(2) Vulnerability (b) Consumption
Ans. (1)-(b), (2)-(c), (3)-(d), (4)-(a)
(3) $ 1.90 (c) Backward Classes
56. Column A Column B
(4) `1000 (d) World Bank
(1) Economic growth (a) Indicator for
Ans. (1)-(b), 2-(c), 3-(d), 4-(a)
poverty analysis
58. Column A Column B
(2) Social exclusion (b) Most vulnerable to
poverty (1) MGNREGA (a) 2000

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284 | CBSE Question Bank Social Science – IX
(2) REGP (b) 2005 (4) PMGY (d) 1999
(3) SGSY (c) 1995 Ans. (1)-(b), (2)-(c), (3)-(d), (4)-(a)

Very Short Answer Type Questions

59. Name one of the most important and difficult challenges water and sanitation are the real property indicators in a
faced by independent India? [NCERT] country like India.
Ans. Poverty is one of the most important and difficult 64. When does a man in India considered poor?
challenges faced by independent India. Ans. When a person's income or consumption level falls below
60. Which country has the largest single concentration of a given minimum level necessary to fulfill the basic needs
the poor in the world? then the man is considered poor in India.
Ans. India has the largest single concentration of the poor in 65. The present formula for food requirement while
the world. estimating the poverty line is based on the desired
61. What did Mahatma Gandhi say about poverty? ____________ requirement.
[NCERT] Ans. calorie.
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi always said that India would be truly 66. The poverty line is estimated periodically in every _____
independent only when the poorest of its people become years by the ______ .
free of human suffering. Ans. The poverty line is estimated periodically in every 5 years
62. What are the indicators of poverty in India? by the NSSO.
Ans. Income and consumption are two indicators of poverty in 67. What is the full form of NSSO?
India. Ans. National Sample Survey Organisation.
63. What should be the real property indicators in a country 68. The new sustainable development goals of the United
like India? Nations propose to end poverty of all types by the year
Ans. Literacy level, general resistance due to malnutrition, ______ .
access to healthcare, job opportunities, safe drinking Ans. 2030

Short Answer Type-I Questions

69. What are the different dimensions of poverty? What is
poverty? [NCERT]
Ans. Hunger and a lack of shelter are two aspects of poverty.
Parents who are unable to send their children to school
are in this circumstance. It is a condition in which sick
people are unable to pay for medical treatment. Poverty
also means a lack of access to safe drinking water and
sanitation. It also suggests that you don't have a job that
pays at least well to fulfill your basic necessities. It also
entails a feeling of powerlessness.
70. On which factor the present formula for food
requirement while estimating the poverty line is based
on?
Ans. The present formula for food requirements while
estimating the poverty line is based on calorie
requirement.
71. How does the World Bank measure poverty?
Ans. The World Bank uses a uniform standard for poverty line
to measure poverty which is minimum availability of the
equivalent of 1.9 dollar per person per day.
72. What was the aim of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act 2005?
Ans. The aim of this Act was to provide 100 days of wage Ans. This scheme started for additional central assistance to
employment to every household to ensure livelihood
security in rural areas. It also aimed at sustainable
development to address the cause of drought,
deforestation and soil erosion.
73. What were the aims of Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana
(PMRY)? In which year it was started?
Ans. The Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) aims to
provide educated unemployed youngsters in rural and
small towns with self-employment options.
74. What were the aims of Rural Employment Generation
Programme (REGP)?
Ans. In 1995, this programme was established. The program's
goal is to provide chances for self-employment in rural
and small towns. Under the Tenth Five Year Plan, a goal of
25 lakh new jobs has been set for the programme.
75. What were the aims of Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar
Yojana? In which year it was launched? [NCERT]
Ans. The aims of this scheme were to bring the assisted poor
families above the poverty line by organising them into self
help groups through a mix of bank credit and government
subsidy.
The scheme was launched in 1999.
76. What were the aims of Pradhan Mantri Gramodya
Yojana (PMGY)?
states for basic services such as primary health education
and rural shelter and rural drinking water.

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 Poverty as a Challenge | 285

Short Answer Type-II Questions

77. (a) What are the different methods to estimate West. It enhanced food security and also created many
poverty line? job opportunities in agriculture. It has helped to reduce
(b) Who conducts the sample surveys to estimate poverty in certain parts of India. But as the effects are
poverty lines? limited to some parts, so in other regions, there are still
Ans. (a) The two common methods to estimate poverty lines significant number of poor people.
are: 81. How is socio-cultural and economic factor responsible
(i) Consumption method: Determining the poverty for poverty in India?
line in India is based on the desired calorie Ans. Due to a variety of historical, socio-economic, and cultural
requirement. The accepted average calorie factors, India has widespread poverty.
requirement in India is 2400 calories per person Social-cultural causes of poverty: Most individuals in
per day in rural areas and 2100 calories per India, especially the poverty-strickon (impoverished),
person per day in urban areas. used to spend a lot of money in order to fulfill social
(ii) Income method: For the year 2012, the poverty obligations and participate in religious ceremonies. This
line for a person was fixed at ` 816 per month for will return them to poverty.
the rural areas and `1000 for the urban areas. Economic causes of poverty: Small farmers used to
(b) National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) take out loans to buy seeds, fertilisers, insecticides, and
conducts sample surveys to estimate poverty lines. other agricultural supplies. They get indebted if there
78. Explain the principle measures taken in Punjab, Kerala is a harvest failure. As a result, they are forced to live in
and West Bengal to reduce poverty. poverty.
Ans. Following are the factors that helped Punjab, Kerala and 82. Give any three characteristic features of Rural
West Bengal in reducing poverty: Employment Guarantee Act.
(i) Punjab: It has succeeded in reducing poverty due to Ans. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is one of the
high agricultural growth. anti-poverty measures of government. It was enacted in
(ii) Kerala: It has succeeded in reducing poverty by the year 2005. Various features of the Act are:
investing on human resource development. Kerala
(i) Guaranteed 100 days of assured employment every
has the highest literacy rate in the country.
year to selected number of rural houses.
(iii) West Bengal: In West Bengal, land reform measures
have helped in reducing poverty. Operation Barga (ii) One third of proposed jobs would be reserved for
is a land reform movement which largely protects women.
the interests of the sharecroppers (bargadars) and (iii) If an applicant is not provided employment within
prevented them from the exploitation of landowners. 15 days she will be entitled to a daily unemployment
79. Explain colonial rule and income inequalities as causes allowance.
of poverty. [NCERT] 83. Which circumstances compelled the government to
Ans. One of the historical reasons for poverty is the low level start targeted anti-poverty programmes? Mention the
of economic development under the British colonial names of any two such programmes.
administration. The policies of the colonial government Ans. (a) Because the poor are unable to take advantage of
ruined traditional handicrafts and discouraged the opportunities that have been made for them,
development of industries like textiles. agricultural growth has lagged well behind forecasts.
Income inequalities have resulted from non-availability (b) Because the agricultural industry employs a high
of land to rural landless labourers. Thus, they are forced number of poor people, there is a need for focused
to work for low wages for the large farmers, leading to anti-poverty programmes.
poverty as they are not able to meet their daily needs with
their meagre earnings. The following are examples of such programmes.
80. Describe the contribution of Green Revolution to (i) National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005
eradicate the poverty in India. [NCERT] (ii) National Employment Guarantee Funds
Ans. Green Revolution has increased the production and (iii) National Food for Work Programme
productivity of agriculture, mostly in West and North- (iv) PMRY, SGSY, PMGY, or AAY

Long Answer Type Questions

84. Describe how the poverty is seen by social scientists.
[NCERT]
Ans. Social scientists use the following indicators to examine
poverty.
(i) Level of illiteracy: Parents who are unable to send
their children to school are in this circumstance.
(ii) Inadequate healthcare access: This is a circumstance
in which sick people are unable to pay for treatment.
(iii) Inadequate drinking water access: This refers to a
lack of safe and clean drinking water facilities.
(iv) Job insecurity: This refers to the absence of a regular
job opportunity.

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286 | CBSE Question Bank Social Science – IX
(v) Lack of general resistance: It refers to an overall lack
of resistance caused by starvation.
(vi) Lack of sanitation: This refers to the need to clean up
our surroundings.
85. What is poverty line? What are the calories and rupees
fixed for rural and urban areas for measuring the
poverty line? [NCERT]
Ans. Poverty Line: It is an imaginary line used by any country
to determine its poverty.
Calories and Rupees fixed for rural and urban areas to 87. Why is the population of poor people not the same in
measure poverty line: The poverty line fixed for the rural
and urban areas in India according to the year 2012 was
`816 and `1000 per person per month, respectively. It
is higher in urban areas because of high prices of many
essential commodities in urban areas. The accepted
average of calories requirement in India is 2400 calories
per person per day in rural areas and 2100 calories in
urban areas. It is high in the rural areas because of more
physical work done by the rural people.
86. Describe any two important poverty alleviation
programmes currently being implemented in India.
Ans. National Food for Work Programme (NFWP)
(i) This programme was launched in 2004 in 150 most
backward districts of the country.
(ii) This programme is open to all rural poor who are in
need of wage employment and have desire to do
manual unskilled work.
(iii) It is implemented as a 100% centrally sponsored
scheme.
(iv) Under this scheme, foodgrains are provided free of
cost to the states.
(v) Later this scheme was merged with NREGA.
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)
(i) This Act was passed in September 2005.
(ii) This Act is now renamed as Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
(iii) This Act provides 100 days assured employment
every year to every rural household in 200 districts.
Later, the scheme will be extended to 600 districts.
(iv) One-third of the proposed jobs would be reserved for
Assertion and Reason Based Questions
Directions : In the questions given below, there are two
statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read
the statements and choose the correct option :
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of
A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
of A.
(c) A is correct but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong but R is correct.
89. Assertion (A): World Bank is important in estimating
poverty line.
Reason (R): The World Bank compares countries by
presenting a uniform standard for poverty line which is
acceptable by all countries. [NCERT]
Ans. (a)  Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
of A.
Explanation:
According to the current degree of development, different
countries have varying poverty lines and accept diverse
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women.
(v) The Central Government will establish National
Employment Guarantee Funds (NEGF). The State
Governments will also establish State Employment
Guarantee Funds (SEGF) for implementation of
scheme.
(vi) Under this programme, if an applicant is not provided
employment within 15 days, he/she will be entitled to
a daily unemployment allowance.
every state? Explain in three points.
Ans. Proportion of poors is not being the same in every state.
The reasons are:
(i) Poverty reduction success differs from state to state.
(ii) Twenty states have poverty rates that are lower than
the national average.
(iii) With poverty rates of 47 and 43 percent, Odisha and
Bihar remain the poorest states in the country.
(iv) Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil
Nadu, and a few other states have experienced
significant poverty reduction.
(v) States like Punjab and Haryana have been able to
reduce poverty to a great extent, thanks to high
agricultural growth rates.
(vi) Proper organisation of Public Distribution System
(PDS) in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu has also
helped to tackle the problem of poverty.
88. How are socio-cultural and economic factors
responsible for poverty?
Ans. Poverty is caused by a variety of socio-cultural and
economic factors. People in India, including the very poor,
spend a lot of money in order to fulfill social obligations
and observe religious ceremonies. Small farmers need
money to buy seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other
agricultural inputs. Poor people are forced to borrow
money from money lenders because they due to poverty
they have no savings. They become indebtedness victims
because they are unable to repay due to poverty. As
a result, high indemnity is both a cause and an effect of
poverty.
social norms. The World Bank compares all countries and,
presenting a uniform standard for the poverty line, all
countries accept this.
90. Assertion (A): Calorie requirement of people in rural
areas is higher.
Reason (R): Rural people are engaged in more physical
labour than people in urban areas.
Ans. (a) 
Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
of A.
Explanation:
Because people in rural areas engage in more intense
physical labour than people in metropolitan areas,
their calorie requirements are higher. The daily calorie
requirement in rural settings is estimated to be 2400
calories per person. In urban regions, however, it is 2100
per person, per day.
91. Assertion (A): Social exclusion of the SCs in rural areas is
a major cause of their poverty.