Poverty can be regarded as the single most universal phenomenon forming an unvarying and uniform thread that transcends all boundaries and nations. A whole gamut of complexities is encompassed by the single word ‘poverty’. India’s plunge into mass poverty manifested during the colonial era and markedly accelerated throughout that phase. A poverty alleviation agenda involves several distinct essentials: first, it is crucial to define poverty for a particular region, which can be done only if the specific causative factors are underlined. Based on this understanding, a mode of measurement needs to be devised to identify the poor. Only when these aspects have crystallized, is it possible to design and implement intervention programmes. It is now realized that a collaborative measure of emphasis on accelerated growth and a direct interventionist-safety net procedure is the proper approach to optimize the control strategies. Lastly, it needs to be ensured that the institutions executing these measures complement the policy stance. India as a welfare state is committed to the development of its people. The constitutional responsibility is reflected via legislations and development policies. During the last five decades, India’s tryst with poverty has met with chequered responses. It would, however, be incorrect to say that all poverty reduction programmes have failed.