This figure of about 23K is the mean (average) value. However, evaluating any indicator based on mean can be misleading. Set off to cross a river with average depth of 2 feet, person gets drowned, because, somewhere the water is 7 feet. It is surprising how our experts / statistician (not politicians, they will not understand) allow such vague information to be published which in a way gives no clues. Standard deviation would give better idea. More the standard deviation, flatter the curve, and more evenly distributed is the income. Or else, an information like "% above the mean" would give much better picture to common man. Ofcourse, "% below BPL" is a useful indicator. Believe me, this figure of 23k practically gives no useful information. People are interested to know "how it is distributed" rather than "where it is centered".
