Poverty is primarily defined by inadequate income, which prevents individuals or families from meeting basic needs. Income determines the purchasing power of people; if it is low, individuals cannot afford nutritious food, education, healthcare, and housing, leading to a cycle of poverty. On the other hand, increased income provides resources to access essential services, break poverty cycles, and improve quality of life. Governments often use income-based measures like per capita income or poverty line to assess poverty levels. Thus, tackling poverty requires increasing income through employment generation, skill development, and equitable resource distribution.