Unit Test (Solutions): Poverty as a Challenge | Social Studies (SST) Class 9 PDF Download

Time: 1 hour
M.M. 30
Attempt all questions.
Question numbers 1 to 5 carry 1 mark each.
Question numbers 6 to 8 carry 2 marks each.
Question numbers 9 to 11 carry 3 marks each.
Question numbers 12 & 13 carry 5 marks each.

Q1. Mention one aim of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). (1 Mark)

Ans: To provide clean cooking fuel (LPG) to poor households.

Q2. Name the two broad indicators used in the National Multidimensional Poverty Index apart from education. (1 Mark)

Ans: Health indicators and standard of living indicators.

Q3. Which act aims to provide 100 days of wage employment to rural households? (1 Mark)
(a) Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Abhiyan
(b) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(c) Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan
(d) Right to Education Act

Ans: (b)

Q4. Which social group is most vulnerable to poverty in India? (1 Mark)
(a) General Category
(b) Scheduled Tribes
(c) Other Backward Classes
(d) Urban Professionals

Ans: (b)

Q5. What is the full form of HCR in the context of poverty estimation? (1 Mark)
(a) Human Capital Ratio
(b) Head Count Ratio
(c) Health Care Ratio
(d) Household Consumption Ratio

Ans: (b)
HCR stands for Head Count Ratio.

Q6. Differentiate between the consumption-based poverty line and the Multidimensional Poverty Index. (2 Marks)

Ans: 

• Consumption-based Poverty Line: Measures poverty using income or expenditure needed to meet basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter.

• National Multidimensional Poverty Index (NMPI): Measures poverty through 12 indicators covering health, education, and standard of living, directly capturing different deprivations.

Q7. What does the term 'social exclusion' mean in the context of poverty? (2 Marks)

Ans: Social exclusion means keeping individuals or groups out of facilities, benefits, and opportunities enjoyed by others.
Example: In India, certain castes have been denied equal access to resources due to the caste system.

Q8. “Human poverty is more than income poverty.” Justify this statement with examples. (2 Marks)

Ans: Human poverty includes lack of education, health care, job security, dignity, and equality. It is not just about low income.
Example: A person may earn enough for food but lack clean drinking water or schooling for children.
Hence, policies must address these non-income aspects for true poverty removal.

Q9. Describe the role of economic growth in reducing poverty in India. (3 Marks)

Ans: Since the 1980s, India’s GDP growth rate rose from about 3.5% to around 6%, creating jobs and funding human development.

• Higher incomes improved living standards.

• Investment in education and infrastructure increased opportunities. However, slow agricultural growth still limits rural poverty reduction.

Q10. Identify three major causes of poverty in India. (3 Marks)

Ans: 

• Low economic development during colonial rule that destroyed traditional industries.

• Unequal distribution of land and resources.

• High population growth with insufficient job creation.

Q11. Explain the global poverty trends between 2010 and 2019. (3 Marks)

Ans: The share of people living below US$2.15/day fell from 16.27% in 2010 to 9.05% in 2019.

• China and Southeast Asia saw sharp declines due to rapid growth.

• Sub-Saharan Africa had slower progress and still has the largest concentration of the poor.

Q12. Discuss the anti-poverty measures implemented by the Indian government. (5 Marks)

Ans: The Indian government’s anti-poverty strategy focuses on economic growth and targeted programmes:

• Economic Growth: High growth rates since the 1980s have created jobs and resources for education and health, reducing poverty.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005): Provides 100 days of wage employment to rural households, ensuring livelihood security and sustainable development.
• Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Abhiyan: Improves nutrition and school enrollment for children in Classes I-VIII, reducing dropouts among disadvantaged groups.
• Land Reforms: Aimed at redistributing land to rural poor, though implementation has been uneven.
• Public Distribution System: States like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu use food grain distribution to alleviate poverty, enhancing food security.

Q13. Analyze the concept of human poverty and its significance in understanding poverty in India. (5 Marks)

Ans: Human poverty extends beyond income-based definitions, encompassing deprivations in education, health, shelter, job security, and freedom from discrimination. It reflects a lack of reasonable living standards, not just subsistence. 
In India:

• Many may afford food but lack access to quality education or healthcare, as seen in cases like Lakha Singh’s family.
• Social groups like Scheduled Castes and Tribes face caste-based exclusion, exacerbating human poverty.
• Gender disparities, like unequal resource access for women and female infants, highlight human poverty’s depth.
• The Multidimensional Poverty Index, adopted by NITI Aayog, measures these deprivations, showing a decline from 55% in 2005-06 to 15% in 2019-21.
• Understanding human poverty is crucial for holistic policy-making, ensuring interventions address non-income aspects for sustainable development.