Question : Assertion: The poverty gap index measures the depth of poverty.
Reason: It calculates the average income shortfall of the poor from the poverty line.
Option 1: Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
Option 2: Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
Option 3: Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
Option 4: Assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Correct Answer: Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
Solution : The correct answer is (b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
The assertion is true. The poverty gap index is a measure used to assess the severity or depth of poverty within a population. It takes into account the income shortfall of the poor population from the poverty line, indicating the extent to which they fall below the poverty threshold.
However, the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion. While the reason correctly describes one aspect of the poverty gap index calculation, it does not fully explain the concept of measuring the depth of poverty. The poverty gap index considers the income shortfall of the entire population below the poverty line, not just the poor, in order to capture the overall severity of poverty.
Therefore, the correct answer is b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.