Burden of Multidimensional Poverty and its Determinants in India across Social Categories: Evidence from National Family Health Survey

The United Nations’ primary Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) aims to eradicate extreme poverty in all its forms by 2030. Traditionally, poverty has been measured using monetary metrics; however, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) introduced the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) to provide a more comprehensive perspective. Despite its importance, research on multidimensional poverty remains limited, particularly at the community level. This study utilizes data from the 5th round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) to examine the specific deprivations and spatial variations of multidimensional poverty across India, with a focus on social category specific disparities. The findings reveal that Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC) experience the highest levels of deprivation in health, education, and living standards, with ST category facing the most severe challenges. Despite various government initiatives, a significant proportion of tribal households still lack access to clean cooking fuel and adequate housing. Logistic regression analysis identifies key determinants of multidimensional poverty, including household head characteristics, household size, and factors such as the presence of young children, tuberculosis, and disability. Additionally, decomposition analysis highlights wealth, education, and health as the most significant contributors to multidimensional poverty. These findings highlight persistent inequalities affecting marginalized social categories and emphasize the need for targeted policy interventions. Implementing social category-specific strategies is crucial for addressing disparities and ensuring that poverty eradication efforts align with the SDGs.