In a remarkable achievement, India has reduced its extreme poverty rate from 27.1% in 2011–12 to just 5.3% in 2022–23, according to the latest World Bank update. That transformation means around 269 million people—more than the entire population of many large countries—have been lifted out of extreme poverty over the past decade.

What makes this even more impressive? The World Bank not only raised its poverty threshold from $2.15 to $3 per person per day but also India still achieved this extraordinary progress.

This success extends beyond numbers—it’s a testament to policy interventions that truly work. Major public welfare initiatives—like expanded food subsidies, affordable housing, clean cooking fuel , widespread banking access, universal health coverage, and infrastructure development—have all played crucial roles in lifting millions from poverty.

What’s more, the gains are widespread. Poverty has dropped in both rural and urban areas, and states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan, once poverty hotspots, have led much of this progress.

Of course, significant challenges remain—but this is a historic milestone. The key reminder? With the right mix of governance, targeted programs, and social support, it's possible to tackle even the toughest issues—and that is what’s right with the world.