According to the 2023-24 Human Development Report (HDR), titled ‘Breaking

the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarised World,’ India ranks 134 on

the global Human Development Index (HDI).
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT
Performer:
 Top Three Countries (Scores): Switzerland (0.967), Norway (0.966) and
Iceland (0.959).
 Bottom Three Countries: Somalia (0.380), South Sudan (0.381), Central
African Republic (0.387).
 Bigger Economies: USA (0.927), UK (0.889), Japan (0.878), Russia (0.821).
 Countries Not Ranked in Index: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
(North Korea) and Monaco.
Unprecedented Levels of Growth Disparity:
 While affluent nations experienced remarkable development, half of the
world's poorest countries remained below their pre-Covid-19 crisis levels.
 The trend of diminishing inequalities between wealthy and poor nations
over two decades has now reversed.
Global Democracy Challenges:
 The report highlights an emerging "democracy paradox," where there is
widespread support for democracy alongside the endorsement of leaders
who may undermine democratic principles.
 This paradox, coupled with feelings of powerlessness and a lack of control
over government decisions, has fueled political polarization and inward-
looking policy approaches.
Widening Human Development Gap:
 Global inequalities have been exacerbated by significant economic
concentration, with nearly 40% of global trade in goods dominated by three
or fewer countries.
 In 2021, the market capitalization of each of the three largest tech
companies in the world exceeded the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of
more than 90% of countries that year.
ABOUT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX
 The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistical composite index that
measures a country's average achievement across three fundamental
dimensions:
o Life expectancy
at birth
(Sustainable
Development
Goal (SDG) 3),
o Expected years
of schooling
(SDG 4.3),
Mean years of
schooling (SDG
4.4)
o Gross national
income (GNI)
(SDG 8.5).
 Historical Context: Developed by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq in
1990, HDI is rooted in Amartya Sen’s capabilities approach, offering insight
into human well-being.
ABOUT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
 Human Development Reports (HDRs) have been released since 1990 and
have explored different themes through the human development approach.
 The reports are prepared by the Human Development Report Office under
the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
 In addition to HDI, the Human Development Report (HDR) showcases
various other indices, including the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI),
Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI), Gender Inequality
Index (GII), and Gender Development Index (GDI).
o The IHDI evaluates human development by examining the evenness of a
country’s achievements across its populace in health, education, and
income, providing a nuanced perspective on development disparities.
INDIA’S PERFORMANCE
 HDI Score: India achieved an HDI score of 0.644 in 2022, positioning it at
134 out of 193 countries in the UN's 2023-24 report, placing it in the
'medium human development' category.
 India in the Medium Human Development Category: Between 1990 and
2022, the country saw its HDI value increase by 48.4 percent, from 0.434 in
1990 to 0.644 in 2022.
 Improvements in Life Expectancy at Birth: India's average life expectancy
rose to 67.7 years in 2022, compared to 62.7 years the previous year.
 Improvements in GNI: Gross National Income (GNI) per capita in India
increased to USD 6951, marking a 6.3% rise over 12 months.
 Improvements in Education: Expected years of schooling also saw an
uptick, reaching 12.6 per individual.
 Comparison with Neighboring Countries:
o Sri Lanka ranks significantly higher at 78, and China at 75, both falling
under the High Human Development category.
o India also trails behind Bhutan, positioned at 125, and Bangladesh at
129, with all three countries categorized under Medium Human
Development.
o Nepal (146) and Pakistan (164) have lower rankings compared to India.
ACHIEVEMENTS

o Noteworthy achievements include a 9.1-year increase in life expectancy

at birth, a rise of 4.6 years in expected years of schooling, and an
increase of 3.8 years in mean years of schooling.
o India's strides in reducing gender inequality are reflected in a Gender
Inequality Index (GII) of 0.437, surpassing the global average.
o On the GII 2022 list, evaluating countries based on reproductive health,
empowerment, and labor market participation, India ranks 108 out of
166 nations in 2022.
 SHORTCOMINGS
 Reversal of Inequality Trends: The Human Development Report
(HDR) 2023–24 highlights a concerning shift in global dynamics,
where after two decades of narrowing, the gap between the
wealthiest and poorest nations has begun to widen since 2020.
 Impact of Inadequate Collective Action: The failure to collectively
address pressing issues such as climate change, digitalization, poverty,
and inequality not only obstructs human development but also
exacerbates polarization and undermines trust in both people and
institutions on a global scale.
WAY FORWARD
 Planetary Public Goods: Emphasizing the necessity of planetary public
goods to address climate stability amidst the unparalleled challenges of
the Anthropocene era.
 Digital Global Public Goods: Advocating for the provision of digital global
public goods to promote greater equity in leveraging emerging
technologies for inclusive human development.
 Financial Mechanisms: Promoting international collaboration in providing
humanitarian assistance and conventional development aid to support
low-income countries.
 Mitigating Political Polarization: Introducing novel governance strategies
aimed at amplifying public participation in decision-making processes and
combatting the spread of misinformation.
PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTION
Which of the following dimensions does the Multi-Dimensional Poverty
Index, developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative
with UNDP support, encompass?
1. Deprivation of education, health, assets, and services at the household
level
2. Purchasing power parity at the national level
3. The extent of the budget deficit and GDP growth rate at the national level
Select the correct answer:
a. 1 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: a

Consider the following Statements regarding the Human Development

Report (2023-24):
1. The reports are prepared by the Human Development Report Office under
the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
2. Between 1990 and 2022, the country saw its HDI value decrease by 48.4
percent, from 0.644 in 1990 to 0. 434 in 2022.
3. Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan have lower rankings compared to India.
Which of the Statements given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: a

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION

Examine India's Human Development Index (HDI) trajectory amid global
disparities, challenges, and inclusive development strategies, with policy
implications.