India suffers from significant poverty, with over half of Indians living on less than $1 per day according to one study. Another report found that 77% of Indians, over 800 million people, live on less than $0.50 per day. Estimating poverty in India is challenging due to inconsistent data, but it is clear a large portion of the population lives in severe poverty. The causes of poverty are debated, with some arguing it stems from colonial exploitation, while others point to unemployment, lack of property rights, dependence on agriculture, high population growth, and the caste system.