What is the trend of poverty estimates since 1973?

(i) There was substantial decline in poverty ratios in India from about 55 per cent in 1973 to 36 per cent in 1993.
(ii) The proportion of people below the poverty line further came down to less than 20 per cent in the next few years.
(iii) Although the percentage of people living under poverty declined, the number of poor remained stable around 320 million for a long time. The latest estimates indicate a significant reduction in the number of poor to about 260 million.