New Delhi: A new global survey has ranked India among the top three most optimistic nations, along with Singapore and Indonesia, based on the economic outlook of the people interviewed across various countries.
The Ipsos “What Worries the World” survey for June states that as many as 69 per cent of surveyed Indians believe their country is moving in the right direction, a sentiment echoed by 79 per cent in Singapore and 70 per cent in Indonesia. This stands in stark contrast to the global average, where only 38 per cent of citizens share this positive outlook.
The survey found that 38 per cent of urban Indians cite inflation as their top worry, followed closely by unemployment at 35 per cent. However, there has been a notable decrease in anxiety levels compared to the previous survey, with worry about inflation dropping by 3 per cent and unemployment by a significant 9 per cent.
Globally, the picture is far gloomier. Inflation (33 per cent) and crime and violence (30 per cent) emerged as the top concerns, followed by poverty and social inequality (29 per cent), unemployment (27 per cent), and financial and political corruption (25 per cent).
The survey was conducted between May 24, 2024 and June 7, 2024, through the Ipsos online panel system among 25,520 adults in 29 countries. The sample consists of approximately 1,000 individuals in several countries, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, and Canada, while approximately 500 individuals were surveyed in India, Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, and Israel among others.
Commenting on India’s optimistic outlook, Ipsos India CEO Amit Adarkar highlighted the government’s role in mitigating the impact of global economic headwinds.
He mentioned measures taken by the government to control fuel prices and inflation, India’s emergence as the world’s fifth-largest economy and its growing influence on the global stage through forums like BRICS and G7 Summit as factors leading to the positive outlook for the future among Indian citizens.
Poverty headcount ratio falls to 8.5% from 21% in last 10 years: NCAER
The level of poverty in India is estimated to have decreased to 8.5 per cent of the population in 2023-24 from 21 per cent in 2011-12, according to a new study by economic think tank NCAER.
The study is based on the latest data from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS).
The NCAER economists led by Sonalde Desai have estimated a decline in headcount poverty ratios in rural areas over the last 10 years from 24.8 per cent in 2011-12 to 8.6 per cent now.
In urban areas, the poverty level has decreased from 13.4 per cent to 8.4 per cent. The decline in poverty in rural areas has been sharper than in urban areas.
The paper points out that there has been a significant increase in food subsidy through the public distribution system and other benefits run through multiple schemes launched by the Centre as well as the states which have benefited the poor.
This sharper decline in poverty in rural areas was also reflected in a recent SBI Research report based on the NSSO Consumer Expenditure Survey.
According to the SBI report, poverty has staged a significant 4.4 per cent decline since 2018-19 and Urban Poverty 1.7 per cent decline post-pandemic, which shows that government initiatives for promoting the welfare of the bottom of the pyramid are having a significant beneficial impact on rural livelihood, the report states.
Along with the sharp decline in poverty in India, there has also been a marked reduction in the rural-urban income divide in the country, the report said.
According to a recent NITI Ayog discussion paper, India has registered a significant decline in multidimensional poverty in India from 29.17 per cent in 2013-14 to 11.28 per cent in 2022-23 which is a reduction of 17.89 percentage points.
Significant initiatives covering all dimensions of poverty have led to 24.82 crore individuals escaping multidimensional poverty in the last 9 years, the NITI Ayog paper said.
Uttar Pradesh registered the largest decline in the number of poor with 5.94 crore people escaping multidimensional poverty during the last nine years followed by Bihar at 3.77 crore, Madhya Pradesh at 2.30 crore and Rajasthan at 1.87 crore, it added.
