India has made significant progress in the Human Development Index (HDI) according to the latest Human Development Report (HDR). The country’s HDI value increased to 0.644 in 2022, ranking it 134th out of 193 countries and territories.
This progress follows a decline in India’s HDI in 2021 and a stagnant trend in recent years. HDR’s report, titled “Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a polarized World”, highlights India’s improvements in all HDI indicators: life expectancy, education and gross national income (GNI) per capita.
In 2022, India saw significant improvements in life expectancy, expected years of schooling, average school age and GNI per capita. In addition, progress has been made in reducing gender inequality, with India’s Gender Inequality Index (GII) 0.437 better than the global and South Asian average.
Caitlin Wiesen, Resident Representative a.i, UNDP India, lauded India’s progress and highlighted the country’s determination to improve the quality of life of its citizens. But Wiesen also highlighted areas for improvement, including a renewed focus on women-led development and digital public goods.
The HDR report notes global trends in inequality, suggesting a reversal of a two-decade trend of decreasing inequality between rich and poor nations. South Asia, including India, has seen a significant loss of HDI due to inequality, highlighting the urgent need for collective action.
India’s human development journey reflects a 48.4% increase in HDI since 1990, placing it in the middle human development category. Despite progress, challenges remain, including gender gaps in labor market participation rates.
Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, emphasized the importance of addressing global inequalities and harnessing interdependence to address common challenges and ensure people’s aspirations are met.
India’s progress in the HDI underscores the country’s ongoing efforts to improve the well-being of its citizens and contribute to the global human development goals.
