04-11-2025 Mains Question Answer
Discuss the indices given by the Human Development report including the status of India in as per the reports.
The Human Development Report (HDR), published annually by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), introduces various indices to assess the socio-economic development of countries. These indices provide a comprehensive picture of a nation’s well-being beyond just economic growth, focusing on human well-being, equity, and sustainability.
The Main Indices Provided by the Report Include:
| Indices | What it is about | India’s status |
| Human Development Index (HDI) | The HDI is a composite index that measures average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: a. Health: Life expectancy at birth. b. Education: Mean years of schooling for adults aged 25 and older and expected years of schooling for children entering school. c. Standard of living: Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. The HDI classifies countries into 4 categories: Very High Human Development, High Human Development, Medium Human Development and Low Human Development. | In the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR), India ranked 130th out of 193 countries. Its HDI value improved from 0.676 (2022) to 0.685 (2023), placing it in the medium human development category, but close to the high HDI threshold (≥0.700). Since 1990, India’s HDI has grown by over 53%, outpacing global and South Asian averages. Key drivers include a rise in life expectancy to 72 years, better education indicators (expected schooling: 13 years; average: 6.9 years), and higher per capita GNI ($9,047 PPP 2021, up from $6,951). |
| Inequality- adjusted HDI (IHDI) | This index adjusts the HDI for inequality in the distribution of each dimension of human development. The greater the inequality, the lower the IHDI compared to the HDI. It gives a clearer picture of development by considering the disparities in human development. | IHDI value: 0.475 (2023); India loses about 30.7% of its human development due to inequality. In India, the poorest 40% population has an income share of 20.2% whereas the richest 10% hold 25.5% of the income share. |
| Gender Development Index (GDI) | The GDI compares the HDI of women to that of men i.e it measures disparities on the HDI by gender. A GDI of 1 indicates perfect gender equality, while a value less than 1 indicates inequality in favor of men. | India shows low equality in HDI achievements between women and men with absolute deviation from gender parity of more than 10%. |
| Gender Inequality Index (GII) | The GII measures gender–based disadvantage in three dimensions:
| India’s GII score indicates considerable gender inequality, with high maternal mortality rates, low parliamentary representation for women, and a low female labor force participation rate. Rank: 102/193 (2023), showing some progress on gender equality but still with considerable challenges. |
| Multi- dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) | The MPI identifies multiple deprivations at the household and individual levels in health, education, and standard of living. It complements income–based poverty measures by capturing broader aspects of poverty. | 16.4% population in India is living under multidimensional poverty whereas 4.2% population is living under severe multidimensional poverty. 18.7% of the population is vulnerable to multi- dimensional poverty. India has made significant progress in reducing multidimensional poverty over the years, but a large proportion of the population still experiences multiple deprivations, especially in rural areas. |
India’s Challenges and Progress:
- India has improved its HDI value consistently since 1990, moving from 0.429 to 0.685.
- India faces challenges in reducing income inequality, improving access to quality education and healthcare, and addressing gender inequality.
- Despite these challenges, India has made progress in reducing poverty, increasing life expectancy, and improving literacy rates, which contribute to its overall human development.
India’s progress in human development is evident through rising HDI scores and improvements in multidimensional poverty indicators. However, significant challenges remain, particularly in addressing gender inequality, reducing disparities in education and healthcare, and ensuring that growth is inclusive and sustainable. India’s focus on policies promoting social inclusion, health, and education, especially for disadvantaged groups, will be crucial in further improving its standing in future Human Development Reports.