- The Indian Express
Express View on poverty estimation in India: Mind the data gaps
Estimates of poverty and inequality in India have been deeply contested. Differences exist among economists not only on data which forms the basis of their estimation, but also on trends over past decades. In the absence of official data for recent years — the last consumption expenditure survey, which forms the basis of poverty and inequality estimates, was for 2011-12 — the issue has been particularly contentious. More so, given the sharp differences of opinion on the extent to which the pandemic exacerbated poverty and inequality.