Human Development Index 2018 : Important Topics for UPSC Exams

Human Development Index 2018 - Analysis

India climbed one spot to 130 countries in latest Human Development ranking released by United Nations Development Program (UNDP). India's HDI value for 2017 is 0.640, which put the country into medium human development index. 

About HDI :

The HDI was introduced in the first Human Development Report in 1990. It was released as a composite measurement of development challenged purely economic assessment of national progress. HDI, basically, is the composite index of life expectancy, education and per capita income, which are used to rank countries in four tiered human development. The index was devised by Pakistani economist Mahbub-ul-Haq in 1990. Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen utilized Haq's work and develop a composite index model. 

Overview :

Norway, Switzerland, Australia and Ireland and Germany leads the ranking while Niger, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Chad and Burundi have the lowest score in HDI. Within South Asia, India's HDI value is above the average of 0.638 in the region. 
Movements in HDI are driven by changes in health, education and income. Health progress in being shown by life expectancy at birth, which increases by almost 7 years globally. The greatest progress is being shown by sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. 
Today's school aged children can expect to be in school for 3.4 years longer than those in 1990. Indian school-age children can expect to stay in schools for 4.7 years longer than in 1990. Additionally, between 1990 and 2017, India's life expectancy too has increased by nearly 11 years. India's GNI per capita has increased by 266.6% between 1990 and 2017.

Need to tackle the existing Disparities :

Although, the Average HDI levels have risen significantly since 1990-- 22% globally and 51% in least developed countries. But there remains a huge disparities across the world in people's well-being. A child born today in a country with low human development can expect to live just over 60 years, while a child born in a country with very high human development can expect to live almost above 80 years.
These statistics speaks to the tragedy of millions of individuals whose lives are affected by inequity and lost opportunities. 
The Inequity- Adjusted HDI (IHDI) allows one to compare levels of inequality within countries. On an average, the inequality takes a bigger toll on countries with lower human development levels. Low and medium human development countries lose respectively 31% and 25% of their human development levels from inequality, of their human development level from inequality, while for very high human development countries, average loss is 11%. 
For India particularly, 26.8% of India's HDI value is lost on account of inequalities-- a greater loss than for most of its south Asian neighbors. It confirms that inequality remains a challenge for India as it progresses economically. One key source of inequality within the country is the gap in opportunities, achievements and empowerment between women and men. 

Condition of Women :

The report emphasizes that despite considerable progress at the policy and legislative levels, women remain significantly less politically, economically and socially empowered than men. Global labor force participation rates for women are lower than for men-- 49% versus 75%. Women also do much more unpaid domestic and care work than men. 
Overall Women's share of parliamentary seats remains low although it varies across regions. In some regions childhood marriage as high adolescent birth rates undermine the opportunities for many young women and girls. In South Asia, 29% of women between the age of 20 and 24 were married before their 18th birthday.
Facts indicate that South Asia experienced the fastest HDI growth among developing regions with 45.3% increase since 1990. On contrary, the region has the widest gap between men and women in HDI at 16.3%. India, however, performs better in women empowerment levels than neighboring Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Ground of Optimism and way forward :

The government of India is committed to improve the quality of life for all its people. The success of India's national development schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat, Make In India and initiatives aimed at universalizing school education and health care, will be crucial in ensuring that the upward trend on human development accelerates and also achieve the PM's vision of development for all and the key principles of SDGs-- to leave no one behind. 
The gaps are narrowing but disparities in people's well-being are still unacceptably wide. Inequalities in all forms and dimensions, between and within countries, limits people's choice and opportunities , withholding progress.

Multiple Choice Questions :

Q. Consider the following statements regarding HDI--

1. It is a composite index, published by World Economic Forum in its Human development Report.
2. HDI takes into account of three dimensions-- long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living-- to measure the average achievements of a country.
3. India's ranking has declined from last year to 130th.

Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
i. 1 and 2
Ii 1 and 3
Iii 2 and 3
Iv all are correct
Answer (ii)
 
Hint--. Remember, the question asked about incorrect statements. 
 
There are chances in Mains GS Paper 3 that a direct question may come from HDI. However, the facts in HDI are inclusive for many questions like women empowerment and others. The format may be--
 
Q. Countries boasts about the growing GDP numbers and connect it with national development. However, GDP growth and inclusive development are two different things. One may support others but there is a need to reduce disparities. Examine it in context of recent Human Development Index.  
 
Hint-- The question take into account HDI data, but demand a broader outlook. One can start with defining GDP in one line and then directly jump into paradoxical relationship of GDP growth and inequalities. In next para, talk about HDI scenario and how the inequalities in all its forms harming the human development. Conclude in a suggestive remark with some government schemes that are reducing these disparities. 

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