Which of the following statements with regard to the Report of Tendulkar Committee (2009) on poverty estimates is/are correct?

1. The Committee had used an all-India urban poverty line basket as a reference to derive both rural and urban poverty levels.

2. The Committee had anchored the poverty line to the official food calorie norms.

Select the correct answer using the code given below. 

The correct answer is 1 only.

Key PointsThe Report of Tendulkar Committee on Poverty Estimates

• The Tendulkar Committee was constituted by the Planning Commission of India in 2005, with the objective of reviewing the methodology for poverty estimation and reporting in India.
• The Committee used an all-India urban poverty line basket as a reference to derive both rural and urban poverty levels. This approach was adopted to account for the differences in the cost of living and to ensure a uniform poverty threshold across urban and rural areas.
  • Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Contrary to previous methods, the Tendulkar Committee moved away from anchoring the poverty line strictly to calorie intake. Instead, it adopted a broader consumption-based approach. This included spending on food, education, health, and clothing among others, thereby providing a more comprehensive measure of poverty.
  • Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Additional Information

• The Tendulkar Committee's methodology marked a significant shift in the way poverty was measured in India, making the poverty estimates more comprehensive by including a wider range of consumption items.
• The Committee's approach was also significant for focusing on poverty alleviation strategies that went beyond mere calorie consumption to include factors affecting living standards such as health, education, and sanitation.
• The Planning Commission, now replaced by the NITI Aayog, played a pivotal role in formulating India's five-year plans and in efforts aimed at reducing poverty through various schemes and measures.