UPSC Editorial Analysis: India’s Human Development Index 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
*General Studies-2; Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.*
India’s Human Development Index 2025
Introduction
• India has made commendable progress in the Human Development Index (HDI), moving up from rank 133 in 2022 to 130 in 2023 among 193 countries, with its HDI value increasing from 0.676 to 0.685.
• This advancement reflects improvements in life expectancy, education, and income. However, significant challenges persist, particularly concerning inequality.
Understanding HDI and India’s Current Standing
• Definition: The HDI is a composite measure assessing average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living.
• India’s Status: With an HDI value of 0.685 in 2023, India falls under the ‘medium human development’ category, edging closer to the ‘high human development’ threshold of 0.700.
Key Drivers of India’s HDI Improvement
• Health
• Life Expectancy: Increased from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, the highest since the index’s inception. Contributing Programs: Initiatives like the National Rural Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Poshan Abhiyaan have significantly improved healthcare access and outcomes.
• Life Expectancy: Increased from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, the highest since the index’s inception.
• Contributing Programs: Initiatives like the National Rural Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Poshan Abhiyaan have significantly improved healthcare access and outcomes.
• Education
• Expected Years of Schooling: Rose from 8.2 years in 1990 to 13 years in 2023. Mean Years of Schooling: Increased from 4.1 years in 1990 to 6.9 years in 2023. Policy Interventions: The Right to Education Act, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, and the National Education Policy 2020 have played pivotal roles in enhancing educational access and quality.
• Expected Years of Schooling: Rose from 8.2 years in 1990 to 13 years in 2023.
• Mean Years of Schooling: Increased from 4.1 years in 1990 to 6.9 years in 2023.
• Policy Interventions: The Right to Education Act, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, and the National Education Policy 2020 have played pivotal roles in enhancing educational access and quality.
• Income
• Gross National Income (GNI) per Capita: Grew from $2,167 in 1990 to $9,046 in 2023, indicating substantial economic growth. Poverty Reduction: Between 2015-16 and 2019-21, approximately 135 million Indians escaped multidimensional poverty, aided by programs like MGNREGA, Jan Dhan Yojana, and digital inclusion efforts.
• Gross National Income (GNI) per Capita: Grew from $2,167 in 1990 to $9,046 in 2023, indicating substantial economic growth.
• Poverty Reduction: Between 2015-16 and 2019-21, approximately 135 million Indians escaped multidimensional poverty, aided by programs like MGNREGA, Jan Dhan Yojana, and digital inclusion efforts.
Persistent Challenges
• Inequality
• Impact on HDI: Inequality reduces India’s HDI by 30.7%, one of the highest losses in South Asia. Income Disparities: The top 10% of the population earns nearly 57% of the nation’s income, while the bottom 50% earns just 13%.
• Impact on HDI: Inequality reduces India’s HDI by 30.7%, one of the highest losses in South Asia.
• Income Disparities: The top 10% of the population earns nearly 57% of the nation’s income, while the bottom 50% earns just 13%.
• Gender Inequality
• Gender Development Index (GDI): India’s GDI stands at 0.874, with female HDI at 0.631 compared to 0.722 for males. Labor Force Participation: Female labour force participation remains low, and political representation of women is also limited, despite recent constitutional amendments aimed at improving this.
• Gender Development Index (GDI): India’s GDI stands at 0.874, with female HDI at 0.631 compared to 0.722 for males.
• Labor Force Participation: Female labour force participation remains low, and political representation of women is also limited, despite recent constitutional amendments aimed at improving this.
Regional Comparisons
• Higher-Ranked Neighbours: China (75th) and Sri Lanka (89th) have secured higher positions in the HDI rankings.
• Similar or Lower-Ranked Neighbours: Bangladesh shares the same HDI value as India (0.685), while Nepal (145th) and Pakistan (168th) have lower rankings.
Global Context and the Role of AI
• Global HDI Trends: The 2025 Human Development Report highlights a global slowdown in human development, with the annual HDI increase being the lowest since 1990.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): The report emphasizes AI’s potential to boost human development by improving productivity, creating jobs, and enhancing education and health services. India has retained 20% of its AI researchers, indicating a strong foundation for leveraging AI in various sectors.
Way Forward
• Addressing Inequality: Implement targeted policies to reduce income and gender disparities, ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities.
• Implement targeted policies to reduce income and gender disparities, ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities.
• Enhancing Education and Health: Invest in quality education and healthcare infrastructure, focusing on underserved regions and populations.
• Invest in quality education and healthcare infrastructure, focusing on underserved regions and populations.
• Promoting Inclusive Growth: Encourage economic policies that benefit all sections of society, particularly the marginalized and vulnerable groups.
• Encourage economic policies that benefit all sections of society, particularly the marginalized and vulnerable groups.
• Leveraging Technology: Develop robust frameworks to harness AI’s potential in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and public service delivery, while ensuring ethical considerations and preventing exacerbation of existing inequalities.
• Develop robust frameworks to harness AI’s potential in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and public service delivery, while ensuring ethical considerations and preventing exacerbation of existing inequalities.
Conclusion
• India’s ascent in the HDI rankings reflects significant strides in health, education, and income. However, to transition from ‘medium’ to ‘high’ human development, concerted efforts are needed to address persistent inequalities and leverage technological advancements responsibly.
• With inclusive policies and sustained commitment, India can continue its trajectory towards comprehensive human development.
“India’s improvement in the Human Development Index reflects significant progress in basic capabilities, but persistent inequality continues to dampen the impact.” Critically examine this statement in light of the 2023-24 Human Development Report. Suggest policy measures to ensure inclusive human development. (250 words)