India's Extraordinary Feat: 415 Million Escaping Poverty in Just 15 Years, According to UN Report

India has achieved a remarkable milestone by lifting a staggering 415 million people out of poverty within just 15 years, from 2005/2006 to 2019/2021, as reported by the United Nations (UN). The latest update of the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford, highlights this incredible achievement.

Among the 25 countries that successfully halved their global MPI values in the same period, India stands out alongside Cambodia, China, Congo, Honduras, Indonesia, Morocco, Serbia, and Vietnam. India's poverty incidence dropped from 55.1% in 2005/2006 to 16.4% in 2019/2021.

The report also underscores the progress in all indicators, including nutrition, child mortality, access to cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, and housing. Notably, children under 18 account for half of the MPI-poor people, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to alleviate child poverty.

While these achievements are commendable, the lack of comprehensive data during the COVID-19 pandemic poses challenges in assessing immediate prospects for further poverty reduction. Nevertheless, India's substantial progress demonstrates the feasibility of poverty reduction goals outlined in the Sustainable Development Agenda, offering hope for a brighter future.