Below Poverty Line is an economic benchmark and poverty threshold used by the government of India to indicate economic disadvantage and to identify individuals and households in need of government assistance and aid. It is determined using various parameters which vary from state to state and within states. The present criteria are based on a survey conducted in 2002. Going into a survey due for a decade, India's central government is undecided on criteria to identify families below poverty line.

Criteria are different for rural and urban areas. In its Tenth Five-Year Plan, the degree of deprivation is measured with the help of parameters with scores given from 0-4, with 13 parameters. Families with 17 marks or less (formerly 15 marks or less) out of a maximum 52 marks have been classified as BPL.

For registration of BPL families following parameters are taken into consideration

  1. Average monthly income of household in rupees
  2. Type of Operational holding of Land
  3. Whether owns land for construction of IAY house (Yes/No) ?
  4. Drinking water Facility for plain areas or hilly areas
  5. Social Group of the Household
  6. Size group of operational
  7. Type of House
  8. Average Availability of normal wear clothing(per person on pieces)
  9. Food security
  10. Sanitation
  11. Ownership of consumer durables
  12. Literacy status of the highest literate adult
  13. Status of the Household Labour Force
  14. Means of livelihood
  15. Status of children(5-14 years)any child
  16. Type of indebtedness
  17. Reason for migration from household
  18. Preference of Assistance
  19. Sanitation
  20. Ownership of consumer durables
  21. Literacy status of the highest literate adult
  22. Status of the Household Labour Force
  23. Means of livelihood

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