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Difficulty: MediumPoverty Estimation, Inequality Metrics, and Inclusive Growth Strategies

Consider the following statements regarding the Suresh Tendulkar Committee (2009) methodology for estimating poverty in India:

1. It shifted the poverty estimation framework away from anchoring poverty lines strictly to explicit calorie intake norms.
2. It recommended separate, distinct poverty line commodity baskets for rural and urban areas.
3. It moved from the Uniform Reference Period (URP) to the Mixed Reference Period (MRP) for measuring household consumption expenditure.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1 and 3 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    1 and 2 only
  3. C
    2 and 3 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

The statements stating that the Tendulkar Committee moved away from calorie norms (Statement 1) and adopted the Mixed Reference Period (Statement 3) are correct, while the statement claiming separate commodity baskets were used (Statement 2) is incorrect. Therefore, '1 and 3 only' is the correct response.
Statements 1 and 3 are factually accurate regarding the Suresh Tendulkar Committee (2009). The committee moved away from fixed calorie intake benchmarks and shifted from Uniform Reference Period (URP) to Mixed Reference Period (MRP). Statement 2 is incorrect because the committee recommended a single, uniform national urban poverty line basket applicable to both rural and urban areas (adjusted regionally for local price levels).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate Statement 1 regarding calorie intake norms
Statement 1 is correct.
Prior to 2009 (under the Lakdawala methodology), poverty lines were anchored to 2400 kcal/day (rural) and 2100 kcal/day (urban). The Suresh Tendulkar Committee discontinued this explicit calorie-anchored benchmark due to changing nutritional patterns.
2
Evaluate Statement 2 regarding rural and urban commodity baskets
Statement 2 is incorrect.
The Tendulkar Committee recommended a uniform Poverty Line Basket (PLB) across both rural and urban India based on the urban consumption specifications, rather than maintaining separate commodity baskets.
3
Evaluate Statement 3 regarding reference periods for NSSO consumption expenditure
Statement 3 is correct.
The committee shifted from the 30-day Uniform Reference Period (URP) to the Mixed Reference Period (MRP), which captures low-frequency expenditure items (such as clothing, footwear, education, and health) over a 365-day recall period.

Key Concept

Methodology of the Suresh Tendulkar Committee (2009) on Poverty Estimation
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Topics

Poverty Estimation, Inequality Metrics, and Inclusive Growth Strategies