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Which Are The Five Poorest States In India As Per MPI 2021?
Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Meghalaya topped the list of poorest states in India for 2021, according to Niti Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index, released on 24.11.2021.
This is India’s first-ever Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report, based on the reference period of 2015-16 of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). This was created by Niti Aayog, Govt. of India in collaboration with Oxford University. The nationwide household microdata collected by the NFHS formed the basis of the computation of National MPI.
MPI measures the state-wise levels of household poverty in India. This is measured by covering the three equally weighted macro dimensions of households, namely, Health, Education, and Standard of living; each represented by a group of indicators.
Macro Dimensions and Indicators:
Health | Education | Standard of Living |
Nutrition Child & Adolescent Mortality Antenatal Care | Years of Schooling School Attendance | Cooking Fuel Sanitation Drinking-Water Electricity Housing Assets Bank Account |
According to Niti Aayog, the National MPI captures multiple and simultaneous deprivations faced by households across the three macro dimensions of health, education, and standard of living.
The report is an effort to measure and monitor the progress on achieving target 1.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on multidimensional poverty. The SDG Target 1.2 is to reduce the proportion of people of all ages living in poverty, in all its dimensions, by 50% by 2030.
Poorest states in India -Summary of Findings
- Bihar topped the list of poorest states in India with 51.9% of the state’s population are found multidimentionally poor by various parameters
- Bihar’s record was worst in 6 of the 12 indicators such as Nutrition, Maternal Health, Years of Schooling, School attendence, Cooking fuel, and Electricty
- Kerala adjusted the least poor state in India (0.71% poor population). The state’s performance was the higest in 7 out of 12 indicators (inculding all the indicators of Health and Education)
- Dadra & Nagar Haveli (with 27.36% poor Population) was the poorest Union Terittory in India, while Puducherry was the least poorest (1.72%) UT in 2021.

List of Poorest states in India
Name of the state | % Poor Population | Name of the state | % Poor Population |
Bihar | 51.91% | Uttarakhand | 17.72% |
Jharkhand | 42.16% | Tripura | 16.65% |
UP | 37.79% | Maharashtra | 14.85% |
Madya Pradesh | 36.65% | Telangana | 13.74% |
Meghalaya | 32.67% | Karnataka | 13.16% |
Assam | 32.67% | Andhra Pradesh | 12.31% |
Chhattisgarh | 29.91% | Haryana | 12.28% |
Rajasthan | 29.46% | Mizoram | 9.80% |
Odisha | 29.35% | Himachal Pradesh | 7.62% |
Nagaland | 25.23% | Punjab | 5.59% |
Arunachal Pradesh | 24.27% | Tamil Nadu | 4.89% |
West Bengal | 21.43% | Sikkim | 3.82% |
Gujarat | 18.60% | Goa | 3.78% |
Manipur | 17.89% | Kerala | 0.71% |
Source: Niti Aayog
List of Poorest Union Territories in India
Name of the UT | % Poor Population |
Dadra & Nagar Haveli | 27.36% |
Jammu & Kashmir, & Ladakh | 12.58% |
Daman & Diu | 6.82% |
Chandigarh | 5.97% |
Delhi | 4.79% |
Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 4.30% |
Lakshadweep | 1.82% |
Puducherry | 1.72% |
Source: Niti Aayog
GK Today- Questions and Answers
Here are some of the GK Questions and Answers>
1. Which state’s Balasore district has been given the country’s “Best Marine District Award”? A) Goa B) Odisha C) Assam D) Karnataka |
2. Which state has set up a “Fintech Governing Council” to become a global fintech hub? A) Tamil Nadu B) Kerala C) Telangana D) Maharashtra |
3. Which university/Institute has released the report on “Health Care Equity in Urban India” in collaboration with 17 regional NGOs? A) National Law School of India University B) Tata Institute of Social Science C) Azim Premji University D) Banaras Hindu University |
4. Which organization has given the awards under the “Together for Peace” initiative in collaboration with ABU? A) UNIDO B) IBRD C) UNESCO D) IFAD |
5. Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of which international airport in November 2021? A) Veer Savarkar International Airport B) Noida International Airport C) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport D) Kempegowda International Airport |
6. Which award has been awarded to the social service organization “Pratham” for its work in the field of ensuring quality education? A) India Education Award B) Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2021 C) Jamnalal Bajaj Award D) Pride of Indian Education Awards 2021 |
7. In which state “Patalpani Railway Station” has been announced to be renamed as “Tantya Mama” railway station? A) Madhya Pradesh B) Uttar Pradesh C) Rajasthan D) Uttaranchal |
8. Who is the Indian Railway Minister who has announced to start the third section of trains for tourism “Bharat Gaurav” train? A) Ashwini Vaishnav B) Piyush Goyal C) Nitin Gadkari D) Jyotiraditya Scindia |
9. In which Indian state a group of scientists has identified a new plant species from the forest area of Idamalakkudi colony? A) Andhrapradesh B) Karnataka C) Kerala D) Tamil Nadu |
10. Which country has launched a new satellite named “Gaofen- 11 03” from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center? A) Russia B) China C) India D) France |