India More Equal Than G7 & G20 Nations, Says World Bank Report As Jan Dhan, Aadhaar Fuel Rise
As per the report, extreme poverty dropped to 2.3 per cent in 2022-23 and 1.71 million Indians have moved out of the extreme bracket between 2011 and 2023
India is growing and also bridging the gap between its people. A latest World Bank report places India among the world's most equal societies. It ranks as the fourth most-equal country globally, ahead of the G20 and G7 nations.
As per the report, extreme poverty dropped to 2.3 per cent in 2022-23 and 1.71 million Indians have moved out of the extreme bracket between 2011 and 2023.
These figures are important and impressive, considering India is a vast and diverse country and many areas till recently were considered unreachable. In fact, the figures best reflect the economic growth stories and also show how the various policies of the government and announcements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi are designed to ensure poverty is erased from India.
One such key scheme is the Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana. This has ensured that even the poor now have bank accounts. As of June 25 this year, over 55.69 crore people have a Jan Dhan account, which means more and more people are getting connected to the scheme and can now avail loans on easy interest rates.
Aadhaar and digital identity are also feats that have helped bridge the poverty gap. More than 142 crore Aadhaar cards have been issued and numbers are increasing day by day. DBT or direct benefit transfer has also ensured that savings increased to Rs 3.48 lakh crore. Ayushman Bharat, Start-Up India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana have all been important contributors.
The methodology for calculating the equality index is called Gini Index. As per this index, India's score—25.5—is much lower than China's—which is at 35.7. The lower the index, the more equal you are.
Sources say the finance ministry and other infrastructural sectors are working on new policies to ensure that India's Gini index goes lower, which means the country is becoming more equal. The areas of concern for now are in far-flung areas and states like Bihar, Bengal, Jharkhand, parts of Kashmir, and Tamil Nadu.
The government hopes that as these areas become more accessible and the Centre's schemes percolate to the last level, India will become more equal.
First Published:
July 05, 2025, 14:36 IST
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