🔆 India Among World’s Most Equal Societies: World Bank

📍 Gini Index places India 4th globally in income equality

✅ India’s Gini Index is 25.5, ranking it 4th most equal globally — behind Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and Belarus.
✅ Extreme poverty fell to 2.3% in 2022–23 (from 16.2% in 2011–12); 171 million Indians exited extreme poverty.
✅ India outperforms China (35.7) and US (41.8) on equality; ahead of all G7 and G20 countries.
✅ PM Jan Dhan Yojana: 55.69 crore accounts opened for financial access.
✅ Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) saved ₹3.48 lakh crore by reducing leakages.
✅ Ayushman Bharat issued 41.34 crore health cards; backed by 32,000+ hospitals.
✅ Stand-Up India: ₹62,807 crore loans sanctioned to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
✅ PM Vishwakarma Yojana supported 29.95 lakh artisans with loans, training, and tools.

📘 Source: World Bank, PIB, ORF (July 2025)

📝 Prelims MCQ
Q. As per World Bank 2025 data, which country has the fourth lowest Gini Index indicating high income equality?
(a) Slovenia (b) Belarus (c) India (d) Finland
Ans: (c) India

📝 Mains GS2 Q
“India’s experience shows that growth and equality can go hand in hand.” Discuss with reference to recent poverty and inequality trends.

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