India’s Human Development Continues to Make Progress, Ranks 130 Out of 193 Countries

IN NEWS: India’s Human Development Continues to Make Progress, Ranks 130 Out of 193 Countries

India’s HDI rises from 0.676 (2022) to 0.685 (2023), moving closer to the High HDI threshold (≥ 0.700).
Rank improves from 133 to 130, reflecting sustained progress across multiple socio-economic parameters.
Life expectancy at 72 years — highest ever for India since the HDI’s inception, signaling strong post-pandemic recovery.
Mean years of schooling improved from 6.57 to 6.88, though expected years of schooling show a marginal dip.
GNI per capita (2021 PPP $) increased from $8475.68 to $9046.76.

National social and welfare programmes such as National Rural Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Poshan Abhiyaan have bolstered health outcomes.
Education initiatives — RTE Act, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, and NEP 2020 — improved schooling access.
Economic initiatives like MGNREGA, Jan Dhan Yojana, and growth in digital public infrastructure supported income growth and poverty reduction.
135 million people exited multidimensional poverty (2015–16 to 2019–21).

Inequality remains high, reducing India’s HDI by 30.7%, one of the largest losses in Asia.
Gender disparities persist: low female workforce participation and modest political representation.
Education quality and learning outcomes continue to demand policy attention.

India is emerging as a global AI hub with highest AI skills penetration.
20% of AI researchers now remain in India, compared to almost zero in 2019.
AI innovations are being deployed in agriculture, healthcare, public service delivery, and skilling.
National initiatives include:
- AI-driven advisories for farmers
- Plans for a national compute facility
- AI-supported skill ecosystems in states (e.g., Tamil Nadu, Telangana) in partnership with UNDP

The global HDI slowdown is the worst since 1990.
Inequality between low and very high HDI groups has widened for the fourth consecutive year.
Without policy interventions, achieving very high human development globally may be delayed by decades.

A composite index developed by UNDP since 1990.
Measures progress across three dimensions:
- Health – Life expectancy at birth
- Education – Mean & expected years of schooling
- Living Standards – GNI per capita (PPP$)