Sun Jul 06 01:39:25 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
A recent World Bank report indicates a significant decrease in inequality and extreme poverty in India between 2011-12 and 2022-23. India’s Gini Index now stands at 25.5, making it the fourth-most equal country globally, behind only the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and Belarus. This improvement is attributed to various government initiatives aimed at financial inclusion, welfare benefits, and support for marginalized groups. The report also highlights a substantial reduction in extreme poverty, with 171 million Indians lifted out of it over the past decade. The government emphasizes that India’s model of balancing economic reform with social protection serves as an example for other nations.
**News Article:**
**India Climbs to Fourth Most Equal Country Globally, World Bank Report Finds**
*New Delhi, July 6, 2025* – India has made significant strides in reducing inequality, now ranking as the fourth most equal country in the world, according to a new report from the World Bank. The report, released today, highlights a substantial decrease in India’s Gini Index to 25.5 between 2011-12 and 2022-23, placing it behind only the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and Belarus in terms of income equality.
This progress coincides with a dramatic reduction in extreme poverty, which has fallen from 16.2% to just 2.3% during the same period. The World Bank estimates that 171 million Indians have been lifted out of extreme poverty over the past decade.
The Indian government attributes this achievement to a series of targeted initiatives, including the PM Jan Dhan Yojana, Direct Benefit Transfer, and Stand-Up India, aimed at improving financial access, delivering welfare benefits efficiently, and supporting vulnerable populations.
“India’s path to income equality has been steady and focused,” a government statement said. “The Gini Index of 25.5 is not just a number. It reflects real change in people’s lives. More families now have access to food, banking, healthcare, and jobs.”
The report places India in the “moderately low” inequality category, and the country is rapidly approaching the “low inequality” group. While India’s Gini Index of 25.5 is significantly lower than China’s 35.7 and the United States’ 41.8.
The government emphasized India’s ability to balance economic reform with robust social protection programs, setting it apart as a model for other nations seeking to combine growth with fairness.
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