Poverty, Inequality & Development — Capability Approach, Gini, HDI, SDGs

What should you study in Poverty, Inequality & Development?

• Poverty measurement — multidimensional vs income-based
• Capability approach — Amartya Sen vs Bhagwati growth-first
• Regional disparities — BIMARU states, North-South divide
• Urban poverty — slums, JNNURM, PMAY-U

How often is Poverty, Inequality & Development asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 4 of 10 years, including 2 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

1. 2016: asked
2. 2017: not asked
3. 2018: not asked
4. 2019: asked
5. 2020: not asked
6. 2021: not asked
7. 2022: asked
8. 2023: not asked
9. 2024: asked
10. 2025: not asked

About the Mains GS Paper I paper

GS Paper I is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world, and society. See all 41 Mains GS Paper I topics.

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