Modi Says India Has Lifted 50 Crore People Out of Extreme Poverty

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on November 3, 2026, that around 50 crore people had been lifted out of extreme poverty in India over the past 10 to 12 years. He cited a World Bank report while speaking at the virtual inauguration of Pune Metro Line 3.

The figure refers to the reduction in the number of people living below the international extreme poverty line. Successive rounds of household surveys and national accounts data have shown declines in poverty rates, though the precise number depends on the threshold and methodology used. The World Bank has published updated estimates that place India’s progress among the larger absolute reductions globally.

Modi linked the poverty reduction to expanded access to electricity, housing, cooking gas, bank accounts, and direct benefit transfers. He also pointed to growth in formal employment and infrastructure. The same speech noted the expansion of the metro network from 248 km to 1,200 km over the same period.

Independent assessments have documented large gains in access to basic services. The Multidimensional Poverty Index produced by NITI Aayog and UNDP has also shown declines in deprivation across health, education, and living standards. Differences remain between rural and urban areas and across states.

The claim was made in the context of a development event rather than a dedicated poverty briefing. Officials have previously released state-wise and national figures from the National Family Health Survey and consumption surveys. The 50 crore number aligns with the order of magnitude reported in recent World Bank updates when the international poverty line is applied to India’s population growth and survey data.

Further details on the exact survey year and line used in the cited World Bank report were not expanded in the prime minister’s remarks. The statement forms part of the government’s broader narrative on welfare delivery and economic growth since 2014.