Why India still faces widespread poverty:
Despite remarkable economic growth, India remains home to one of the world’s largest populations living in poverty. Multiple, interconnected factors drive this challenge:
Rapid population growth
With over 1.4 billion people and counting, resources—from farmland to public services—are stretched thin, making it hard for every family to secure a stable livelihood.Uneven regional development
Urban centres like Mumbai and Bengaluru flourish, while many rural areas lack basic infrastructure—roads, electricity, schools and hospitals—which traps communities in cycles of deprivation.Agrarian distress
Over half of India’s workforce depends on agriculture, yet unpredictable monsoons, water scarcity and small landholdings leave farmers vulnerable to crop failures and debt.Lack of quality education & skills training
Millions of children drop out before completing secondary school, limiting their job prospects. Without access to vocational training, many remain confined to low-wage, informal work.Gender and social inequality
Women, people with disabilities and marginalized castes often face barriers to employment, finance and education—deepening their economic exclusion.Health challenges & disaster vulnerability
Poor sanitation, limited healthcare and frequent natural disasters (floods, droughts, cyclones) erode families’ resilience, pushing them further into poverty each time a crisis strikes.