India falls a spot in the Human Development Index; ranks 131 out of 189 countries

India falls a spot in the Human Development Index; ranks 131 out of 189 countries
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Key Points:

  • On Wednesday, India ranked 131 among 189 countries in the 2020 Human Development Index that was released by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
  • India’s gross national income (GNI) per capita on the basis of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), too, fell from $6,829 in 2018 to $6,681 in 2019, the report read.
  • “In India different responses in parent behavior as well as some disinvestment in girls’ health and education have led to higher malnutrition among girls than among boys as a consequence of shocks likely linked to climate change,” the report said.
  • UNDP Resident Representative Shoko Noda said the drop in India’s ranking doesn’t mean “India didn’t do well but other countries did better”.

India is one spot down from its previous position in the Human Development Index list declared by the United Nations. On Wednesday, India ranked 131 among 189 countries in the 2020 Human Development Index that was released by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

India had ranked 130 in the 2018 index.

What is the Human Development Index?

  • It is the measure of a Nation’s Health (Life Expectancy), Education and Standards of Living, also Per Capita Income.
  • A country scores a higher HDI when the lifespan is higher, the education level is higher, and the gross national income GNI (PPP) per capita is higher.

Norway has topped the list of HDI by the United Nations followed by Ireland and Switzerland. Hong Kong and Iceland complete the top five.

India’s gross national income (GNI) per capita on the basis of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), too, fell from $6,829 in 2018 to $6,681 in 2019, the report read.

What is Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)?

Purchasing power parity or PPP is a measurement of prices in different countries that uses the prices of specific goods to compare the absolute purchasing power of the countries’ currencies.

Key Points of the Report in relevance to India:

  • Life expectancy of Indians at birth in 2019 was 69.7 years.
  • India’s HDI value for 2019 is 0.645 which put it in the medium human development category.
  • “In India different responses in parent behavior as well as some disinvestment in girls’ health and education have led to higher malnutrition among girls than among boys as a consequence of shocks likely linked to climate change,” the report said.
  • Decoding India’s rank, UNDP Resident Representative Shoko Noda said the drop in India’s ranking doesn’t mean “India didn’t do well but other countries did better”.
  • India can help other countries too and praised its commitment to reduce carbon emissions, Noda said.
  • India’s gross national income per capita fell to USD 6,681 in 2019 from USD 6,829 in 2018 on purchasing power parity (PPP) basis.
  • The report said evidence from Colombia to India indicates that financial security and ownership of land improve women’s security and reduce the risk of gender-based violence, clearly indicating that owning land can empower women.

The Report – India

Asian Countries that represented “Very High Human Development”:

  • Singapore ranked 11.
  • Saudi Arabia ranked 40.
  • Malaysia ranked 62.

Asian Countries that represented “High Human Development Index”:

  • Sri Lanka (72)
  • Thailand (79)
  • China (85)
  • Indonesia and Philippines (both 107)
  • Vietnam (117)

Asian Countries that represented “Medium Human Development”:

  • Iraq (123)
  • Bhutan (129)
  • India (131)

  • Bangladesh (133)
  • Nepal (142)
  • Kenya (143)
  • Pakistan (154)