Issues Relating to Poverty and Hunger - Free MCQ Practice Test with solutions,

1. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are home to 83% of the world's poor people: This statement is correct. Sub-Saharan Africa has 579 million poor people and South Asia has 385 million, combining to form 83% of the poor population worldwide.

2. The incidence of poverty in India fell from 55.1% in 2005/06 to 16.4% in 2019/21: This statement is correct. There was a significant reduction in poverty incidence in India over this period, with the rate falling from 55.1% to 16.4%.

3. Bihar saw the fastest reduction in MPI value in absolute terms among all Indian states from 2015-16 to 2019-21: This statement is correct. Bihar, previously the poorest state, saw the fastest reduction in its MPI value in absolute terms during this period.

Therefore, all the statements provided are correct. The correct answer is Option D.

1. Universality: UBI reaches out to all citizens irrespective of income levels. (Correct)

2. Unconditionality: UBI is provided only to those who meet certain conditions. (Incorrect)

3. Agency: UBI recipients have the freedom to use the cash transfers as they see fit. (Correct)

4. Implementation: UBI has been successfully implemented in several Indian states. (Incorrect)

Thus, two pairs are correctly matched.

1. Statement 1 is correct: Malnutrition can indeed lead to both stunting and wasting in children. Stunting results from long-term insufficient nutrient intake and frequent infections, leading to delayed motor and cognitive development, which are largely irreversible. Wasting, on the other hand, results from acute food shortages and severe infections, posing immediate risk to survival if untreated.

2. Statement 2 is correct: Undernutrition in early childhood does contribute to a higher risk of developing non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease later in life. This is due to the long-term impact of poor nutrition on the body's metabolic processes and immune system.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect: While it is true that undernutrition is more prevalent in poverty-stricken regions, overweight and obesity are not confined to affluent countries. Both conditions can coexist within the same communities, households, or even individuals in poor regions, as unhealthy, calorie-dense foods are often cheaper and more accessible than nutritious options.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

- Statement 1 is correct. Universal Basic Income (UBI) is designed to provide a guaranteed income to all citizens, irrespective of their income levels, thereby aiming to reduce poverty and vulnerability.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. One of the key components of UBI is unconditionality, meaning that recipients receive the income without having to meet any specific criteria or conditions.

- Statement 3 is correct. Sikkim has indeed become the first state in India to implement UBI.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

1. POSHAN Abhiyaan: Correctly matched. POSHAN Abhiyaan is indeed India's flagship program aimed at improving nutritional outcomes for children, adolescents, pregnant women, and lactating mothers by leveraging technology, a targeted approach, and intersectoral convergence.

2. National Nutrition Mission: Incorrectly matched. The National Nutrition Mission (NNM) aims at bringing in desired convergence among different Ministries/Departments and expanding digital monitoring to all districts to combat malnutrition, not specifically for increasing food storage capacity.

3. ICDS Scheme: Correctly matched. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme provides a package of six services, which include supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition & health education, immunization, health check-up, and referral services.

4. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandan Yojana: Correctly matched. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandan Yojana (PMMVY) provides cash transfers to pregnant women and lactating mothers on fulfilling necessary conditions related to health and nutrition.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

Statement 1: Correct. As of 2014, India's poverty line is set at Rs. 32 per day in rural areas and Rs. 47 in urban areas. This benchmark is used to measure poverty levels in India.

Statement 2: Correct. India was ranked 101st out of 116 nations in the 2021 Global Hunger Index (GHI) with a score of 27.5, indicating a serious level of hunger.

Statement 3: Incorrect. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was first launched in 2010 by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), not by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Thus, the correct answer is Option B.

The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is a health insurance program designed to provide cashless insurance for hospitalization in both public and private hospitals to those in need, particularly the economically disadvantaged. Under this scheme, families below the poverty line can avail themselves of health insurance coverage by paying a nominal registration fee. This initiative aims to enhance access to quality healthcare services and alleviate financial burdens associated with medical emergencies for vulnerable populations.

- Statement 1: Correct. One of the main causes of hunger and malnutrition globally is indeed the lack of purchasing power and access to resources. Poverty limits access to basic needs such as food, shelter, and safe water, thereby contributing significantly to hunger and malnutrition.

- Statement 2: Correct. Poor sanitation and environmental conditions do exacerbate malnutrition. Unsafe water and poor sanitary conditions can lead to diseases and infections that impair nutrient absorption and increase the risk of malnutrition.

- Statement 3: Incorrect. Cultural practices like early marriages and poor breastfeeding practices significantly affect the nutritional status of children. These practices can lead to low birth weight, poor infant nutrition, and increased vulnerability to infections, all of which contribute to malnutrition.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

Statement-I is accurate as it reflects one of the arguments in favor of Universal Basic Income (UBI) as mentioned in the provided text. UBI indeed treats beneficiaries as agents and empowers citizens to decide how to use welfare spending.
However, Statement-II is incorrect. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PMKISAN) does not aim to provide financial support to farmers for procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and yields, as stated in the statement. Instead, PMKISAN provides income support to farmer families directly, without specifying the end use for procuring inputs.

1. Overpopulation - Social Cause of Poverty: Correct. Overpopulation is indeed a social factor that contributes to poverty due to high population density putting pressure on available resources.

2. Unfair Trade - Political Cause of Poverty: Incorrect. Unfair trade is an economic cause of poverty as it involves economic policies and trade practices that disadvantage developing countries.

3. Corruption - Economic Cause of Poverty: Correct. Corruption is both a major cause and a result of poverty and affects the economy by weakening business confidence and public expenditure.

4. Natural Disasters - External Cause of Poverty: Correct. Natural disasters are external causes that lead to poverty by causing infrastructure damage and affecting agricultural output.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

One of the key indicators utilized in assessing acute multidimensional poverty according to the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is the health status of individuals. This indicator incorporates various aspects of health, such as access to healthcare services, disease prevalence, and overall well-being. By considering health along with other dimensions like education and standard of living, the MPI provides a comprehensive assessment of poverty beyond just income measures.

The primary definition of hunger as per the Oxford dictionary in 1971 is "The uneasy or painful sensation caused by want of food; craving appetite." This definition captures the physical and psychological aspects of hunger, reflecting the urgent need for sustenance that individuals experience when they lack access to food.

1. Undernourishment: Share of the entire population with insufficient caloric intake This is correctly matched. Undernourishment reflects the share of the population with insufficient caloric intake.

2. Child Wasting: Low weight for age, reflecting chronic under-nutrition This is incorrectly matched. Child wasting actually refers to low weight for height, reflecting acute under-nutrition.

3. Child Stunting: Low height for age, reflecting chronic under-nutrition This is correctly matched. Child stunting reflects chronic under-nutrition and is measured by low height for age.

4. Child Mortality: Death of children under five years This is correctly matched. Child mortality indicates the death of children under five years of age.

Correct pairs: 1, 3, and 4.

Incorrect pair: 2.

Thus, three pairs given above are correctly matched.

Statement-I incorrectly suggests that hidden hunger primarily results from a diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals but low in calories. In reality, hidden hunger stems from a diet that lacks essential micronutrients like vitamins and minerals, despite having sufficient caloric intake. On the other hand, Statement-II correctly highlights that hidden hunger often manifests with visible physical symptoms such as emaciation and severe weight loss. This distinction clarifies that while Statement-II is accurate, Statement-I is inaccurate, making Option (d) the correct choice.

- Statement 1: This statement is incorrect because hidden hunger refers to micronutrient deficiencies that do not necessarily result from insufficient caloric intake. Instead, it is about the lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the diet, which often do not show visible signs of malnutrition immediately.

- Statement 2: This statement is correct. Biofortification is indeed a process that involves breeding food crops to increase their micronutrient content using conventional or transgenic methods.

- Statement 3: This statement is also correct. Commercial food fortification, particularly with iodized salt, has been a successful public health strategy to address micronutrient deficiencies.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option D.