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UPSC MainsGeneral Studies Paper IISocial JusticePractice question

Poverty Alleviation and Vulnerability of Marginalised Groups

Poverty alleviation programmes in India have expanded social protection but have struggled to eliminate vulnerability among marginalised communities. Analyse the reasons behind the gap between policy intent and outcomes.

Analyse~250 words2 min readmedium
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How to approach

Introduce the topic by acknowledging the expansion of social safety nets under Articles 38 and 46 alongside data on poverty reduction. In the main body, systematically analyse the primary factors causing the gap between policy intent and ground-level outcomes for marginalised communities. Conclude by suggesting capability enhancement and institutional strengthening to bridge these gaps under Article 21.

Model answer

277 words

Introduction

India's poverty alleviation programmes, such as MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act (NFSA), have substantially expanded social safety nets in line with the constitutional vision of a welfare state under Article 38 and Article 46. While NITI Aayog's Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI 2023) highlighted that 13.5 crore individuals exited multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21, vulnerable and marginalised communities continue to encounter chronic structural and operational challenges that prevent the complete elimination of vulnerability.

Reasons for the Gap Between Policy Intent and Outcomes

  • Tech-Centric Exclusion Errors: The rapid and rigid rollout of technological authentication has created procedural barriers. For example, mandatory Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS) adoption has led to exclusions due to spelling discrepancies and backend mapping errors, leaving approximately 27% of registered MGNREGA workers ineligible according to civil society analyses.
  • Institutional and Fiscal Bottlenecks: Centre-State fiscal friction and administrative delays in fund devolution result in irregular wage disbursements and erratic scheme implementation, forcing subsistence households into distress debt cycles.
  • Digital Divide and Inaccurate Targeting: Skewed digital literacy and limited telecommunication infrastructure in remote rural and tribal regions hinder access to Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) and grievance redressal portals, keeping eligible beneficiaries outside the safety net.
  • Suboptimal Grassroots Accountability: Mechanisms designed to enforce transparency, such as community-led social audits mandated under MGNREGA, remain irregular or toothless, while under-resourced Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) lack the administrative autonomy to ensure equitable delivery.

Conclusion

Addressing the implementation gap necessitates transitioning from basic resource provisioning to Amartya Sen's model of capability enhancement. Empowering local self-governments, institutionalising independent social audits, and easing digital compliance requirements are vital steps to ensure social protection translates into a life of dignity guaranteed under Article 21.

Key facts to remember

statistic

Approximately 13.5 crore individuals in India exited multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

— NITI Aayog National Multidimensional Poverty Index (2023)
statistic

Around 27% of registered MGNREGA workers were ineligible for the mandatory Aadhaar-Based Payment System due to backend errors and mismatches.

— LibTech India (2024-25)
quote
“Poverty is best understood not merely as a lack of income, but as capability deprivation that restricts individuals from realizing their full human potential.”
— Amartya Sen on Poverty and Development

Frequently asked questions

Why does digitisation cause welfare exclusion among marginalised groups?

Rigid digitisation frameworks like biometric e-KYC and automated databases can exclude rural, elderly, and tribal workers due to poor biometric capture, connectivity deficits, and unrectified administrative spelling mismatches.

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