Critically Examine the major poverty alleviation and employment generation programmes in India. How effective have they been in addressing rural and urban poverty?
In short
India's poverty alleviation and employment programmes, including MGNREGA, PMAY, NRLM, food security under NFSA and Mudra, have reduced rural poverty most, while urban poverty persists amid fragmented schemes and weak services. Multidimensional poverty fell from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23, and PMAY-G built over 2.69 crore houses.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 271 words
MGNREGA’s Impact
Guarantees 100 days of rural work, crucial during COVID-19 with a 30% demand increase; however, wage delays and low pay persist. It also supports asset creation and drought resilience in rural areas.
Housing and Livelihoods
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin built over 2.69 crore houses improving rural living; NRLM’s SHGs enhance self-employment but face bureaucratic delays. The National Food Security Act complements these by ensuring subsidised food to vulnerable populations.
Skill and Entrepreneurship
Skill India Digital Platform, PMMY, and Stand-Up India promote skills and credit; Employment Linked Incentive Scheme encourages formal employment. Apprenticeship programmes further aid youth employment and industry readiness.
Urban Poverty Programmes
National Urban Livelihood Mission targets urban poor but suffers from overlapping schemes and poor infrastructure. Affordable housing initiatives under PMAY-Urban aim to reduce slum dwellings but face implementation challenges.
Infrastructure and Health
Polavaram Project7’s slow rehabilitation of displaced families and health sector shortfalls in Andhra Pradesh (CAG 2024) limit human development. Education and health vacancies constrain poverty eradication efforts.
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