UPDATED: Oct 31, 2026 11:41 ISTA World Bank report indicates that India lifted 49.6 crore people out of poverty between 2011 and 2023, registering one of the fastest poverty declines globally. According to the findings, extreme poverty calculated at three dollars a day dropped from 27.1 percent to 2.6 percent, while the poverty ratio at 4.2 dollars a day fell from 57.7 percent to 16.1 percent.

However, the report highlights that the top 10 percent of the population earns a median income 13 times higher than the bottom 10 percent. On India Today, economists Dr.

Surjit Bhalla and Professor Santosh Mehrotra debated the findings. Dr.

Bhalla asserted that extreme poverty in India has effectively been eliminated, arguing that recent employment and real wage growth have benefited casual workers at the bottom of the economic pyramid. In contrast, Professor Mehrotra questioned the World Bank's methodology, arguing that changes in the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey prevent direct comparisons with 2011, while citing stagnant real wages and increasing dependency on agriculture as unresolved structural concerns.

Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSPanchkula School Assault: Class 3 Boy Brutally Beats KG Girl, Police Probe NegligenceA six-year-old kindergarten girl was brutally assaulted by an eight-year-old Class 3 student inside a school classroom in Panchkula, Haryana. According to the victim's family, the child was thrashed with stones and a flower pot, dragged across the floor, and beaten repeatedly even after falling unconscious.

The critically injured minor was initially rushed to a local hospital before being referred to PGIMER Chandigarh, where she is undergoing medical treatment and is reported to be stable. A family member recounted discovering the victim covered in blood locked inside an upstairs classroom after school hours.

The horrific incident has triggered widespread outrage and raised serious questions regarding the school administration's negligence and absence of supervision. Haryana Police have initiated a probe into the assault, questioning the school management and the parents of the minor boy involved to establish the circumstances that led to the brutal incident.Special Needs KG Student Brutally Assaulted in Panchkula School, Haryana Police Probe NegligenceA six-year-old special needs kindergarten student was brutally assaulted inside a school in Panchkula, Haryana.

The child was allegedly attacked by a class three student using stones, a brick, and a flower pot, and was dragged even after losing consciousness. Following the incident, the injured child was rushed to the hospital and referred to PGIMER Chandigarh, where she is currently receiving treatment and reported to be stable.

Haryana Police have launched a probe to determine the motive behind the assault and are questioning the school management and the parents of the accused student regarding alleged negligence.PM Modi Marks National Unity Day in Kevadia, Unveils Rs 400-Crore ProjectsPrime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kevadia in Gujarat to pay floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity on the occasion of National Unity Day, marking the 151st birth anniversary of India's first Home Minister. During the visit, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for multiple development, tourism, and infrastructure projects valued at over 400 crore rupees in Ekta Nagar.

Key initiatives include eco-tourism trails, a rainforest reserve, a sewage and water treatment plant, cycle tracks, and upgraded attractions such as the cactus and butterfly gardens. Additionally, the itinerary features an address by the Prime Minister to probationary Indian Administrative Service officers under the Aarambh program and the annual Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Parade.

The evening parade showcases security forces and Central Armed Police Forces, highlighting operational achievements against left-wing extremism, accompanied by a special creative performance on Naxal-Mukt Bharat.PM Modi Marks Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in Kevadia; Major Projects UnveiledPrime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at Kevadia in Gujarat, paying tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity. The event showcased major infrastructure and ecological development initiatives launched across Ekta Nagar.

Key projects include a 2.6-kilometre Unity Trail, a rainforest featuring 60,000 plants of over 450 evergreen species, and an expanded Narmada Ghat capable of accommodating 8,000 devotees, featuring a statue of Lord Shiva. Upgrades to tourist infrastructure encompass six new travelators spanning 282 metres, illuminated facade lighting visible from two kilometres, and electric mobility solutions comprising electric buses and Vistadome coaches.

Ecological measures include five lakh plantations under the Greening of Ekta Nagar drive and an integrated solid waste management project processing 50 tonnes of waste daily to turn the area into a zero-waste tourist destination. Additional facilities include new water and sewage treatment plants, an IRCTC accommodation complex, and enhanced jetty and road connectivity.