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Question

Which one of the following indicators is included in the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)? 

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2023 English Previous Year Paper (16-April-2023)
The correct answer is

Years of schooling

Understanding the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

The National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is a crucial measure used to identify and understand poverty not just based on income, but based on various deprivations a person experiences at the same time. It looks at multiple factors related to health, education, and living standards.

Different countries might adapt the specific indicators slightly for their National MPI, but they are generally based on the globally recognized methodology developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This method identifies deprivation across several key indicators grouped into three main dimensions.

Dimensions and Indicators of the MPI

The standard Multidimensional Poverty Index typically includes the following dimensions and indicators:

Dimension Indicator Deprivation Condition
Health Nutrition Anyone under 70 with nutritional deprivation or a child under 5 who is stunted or underweight.
Child Mortality Any child death in the family in the five years preceding the survey.
Education Years of Schooling No household member aged 10 years or older has completed six years of schooling.
School Attendance Any child between ages 6 and 15 is not attending school up to the age at which they would complete class 8.
Living Standards Cooking Fuel The household uses dung, wood, charcoal, or coal for cooking.
Sanitation The household's sanitation facility is not improved or is shared with other households.
Drinking Water The household does not have access to improved drinking water within a 30-minute roundtrip walk from home.
Electricity The household has no electricity.
Housing Housing material for floor, roof and/or walls is inadequate (e.g., natural materials like earth, mud, straw, bamboo).
Assets The household does not own at least one asset related to information, communication, mobility, or livelihood, or land, and does not own a car or truck.

Evaluating the Given Options

Let's look at the options provided and see which one aligns with the indicators used in the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) based on the standard methodology:

  • Years of schooling: As shown in the table above, 'Years of Schooling' is an indicator within the Education dimension of the MPI. It measures if any adult in the household has completed a certain number of years of schooling.
  • Literacy rate: While related to education, 'Literacy rate' is not a standard direct indicator used in the core MPI calculation. The MPI focuses on school attendance and years of schooling completed by household members.
  • Life expectancy: 'Life expectancy' is a measure often used in broader development indices like the Human Development Index (HDI), but it is not an indicator in the MPI. The MPI uses 'Child Mortality' as an indicator within the Health dimension instead.
  • Per capita income: The MPI is designed to be complementary to monetary poverty measures. It specifically looks at non-monetary deprivations across multiple dimensions. Therefore, 'Per capita income' or income-based measures are not included as indicators in the Multidimensional Poverty Index itself.

Based on the standard indicators included in the National Multidimensional Poverty Index, 'Years of schooling' is the only option listed that is part of the index calculation.

Revision Table: National MPI Indicators

Indicator Type Included in MPI? Dimension (if included)
Years of schooling Yes Education
Literacy rate No N/A
Life expectancy No N/A (Child Mortality used instead)
Per capita income No N/A (Non-monetary index)

Additional Information: Significance of Multidimensional Poverty

Focusing on multidimensional poverty is important because it provides a more complete picture of poverty than just looking at income. A household might be above the income poverty line but still suffer deprivations like lack of clean water, sanitation, or access to schooling. The MPI helps policymakers identify who is poor and how they are poor, which is crucial for designing targeted interventions to address multiple disadvantages simultaneously. The National MPI helps track progress in reducing these deprivations over time.

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