NEWS –  Human Development Index 2022 released

HIGHLIGHTS

1. HDI Rankings and Trends:
   • In 2022, India’s HDI ranking improved by one position to 134 out of 193 countries compared to 135 out of 191 countries in 2021.
   • The HDI value increased to 0.644 in 2022 from 0.633 in 2021, showcasing progress after a drop in 2021.
   • India’s HDI has shown consistent growth since 1990, increasing by 48.4% from 0.434 to 0.644 in 2022.
2. GII Rankings and Progress:
   • India ranked 108 out of 193 countries on the GII in 2022, marking a significant improvement from 122 out of 191 countries in 2021.
   • The GII score improved from 0.490 in 2021 to 0.437 in 2022, indicating reduced gender inequality.
   • Over the last decade, India’s GII rank has consistently improved, reflecting progressive steps towards gender equality.
3. Labor Force Gender Gap:
   • Despite progress in GII rankings, India still faces a large gender gap in labor force participation, with a 47.8% difference between women (28.3%) and men (76.1%).
4. UNDP Report Findings and Global Inequality:
   • The data is from the United Nations Development Programme’s report titled “Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World.”
   • The report highlights global trends, including rising inequality and economic concentration, impacting human development.
5. India’s Initiatives for Gender Equality:
   • The government has implemented policies focusing on women’s empowerment, education, skill development, entrepreneurship, and workplace safety.
   • India’s performance in reproductive health and adolescent birth rate has improved, reflecting positive strides in gender equality.
6. Global Inequality Challenges:
   • The report notes a reversal in the two-decade trend of reducing inequalities between wealthy and poor nations.
   • Economic concentration and global trade disparities contribute to widening human development gaps.
7. UNDP’s Call for Action:
   • The UNDP emphasizes leveraging interdependence and addressing shared challenges to ensure people’s aspirations are met and global inequalities are reduced.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX (HDI)

The United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures a country’s overall achievement in three key dimensions of human development:

1. Health: Measured by life expectancy at birth, which reflects the average number of years a person is expected to live.
2. Education: Measured by two indicators:
   • Mean years of schooling, which represents the average number of years of education received by people aged 25 years and older.
   • Expected years of schooling, which reflects the number of years of schooling a child entering school is expected to receive.
3. Standard of Living: Measured by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, which calculates the average income of a country’s citizens adjusted for purchasing power parity.

The HDI is calculated using a formula that combines these three dimensions into a single index value, ranging from 0 to 1, where higher values indicate higher levels of human development. The index is widely used to compare the development levels of different countries and track progress over time.