Kerala shows the way

On 1 November, Kerala scripted a historic chapter in India's development narrative by officially declaring itself free from extreme povertybecoming the first state to do so.

- Santosh Kumar Mohapatra

Kerala's declaration of freedom from extreme poverty is both an inspiration and an invitation-to policymakers, scholars, and citizens. It demonstrates that with political will, sound governance, community engagement, and coordinated welfare systems, eradicating extreme poverty is achievable even within a middle-income economy. Extreme poverty-defined as the lack of basic human needs such as nutritious food, secure housing, healthcare, and stable livelihood-has remained a stubborn challenge across India despite rapid economic expansion. The World Bank has officially revised its international extreme poverty line to $3.00 per day, measured in 2021 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms. This is an update from the previous line of $2.15 per day (2017 PPP). This revision, announced in June 2025, accounts for global inflation and updated national poverty lines, providing a more current and realistic measure of the cost of living in low-income countries.