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According to the Brookings Institution report, India has eliminated extreme poverty based on recent consumption expenditure data. The key points are:
  1. The Headcount Poverty Ratio (HCR) for the $1.90 PPP poverty line declined from 12.2% in 2011-12 to 2% in 2022-23[1].
  2. Rural poverty stood at 2.5% while urban poverty was down to 1%[1].
  3. Real per capita consumption grew at 2.9% annually since 2011-12, with rural growth (3.1%) outpacing urban growth (2.6%)[1].
  4. There was an unprecedented decline in both urban and rural inequality, with the urban Gini coefficient falling from 36.7 to 31.9 and the rural Gini from 28.7 to 27.0[1].
  5. The decline in poverty is considered remarkable, as it took 30 years previously for India to witness a similar reduction[1].
The authors argue that given the near elimination of extreme poverty, India should transition to a higher poverty line. This would allow for redefining social protection programs to better identify and support those still in need[1].
However, it's worth noting that these estimates do not account for free food provided by the government to about two-thirds of the population or the utilization of public health and education services[1].