Human Development Index

Introduction

• The Human Development Index (HDI) was developed by two economists – Prof. Mehbub Al Haque of Pakistan and Prof. Amartya Sen of India in 1990. 
• Since 1993, HDI has been used by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) each year to calculate the Human Development Index (HDI) and publish it as a report which is known as Human Development Report (HDR).
• The HDI was created to emphasize that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone. 

HDI Indicators

• The HDI captures there dimensions which are long and healthy life, knowledge/Education and a decent standard of living.
• The health dimension is assessed by life expectancy at birth, the education dimension is measured by means of years of schooling for adults aged 25 years and more, and expected years of schooling for children of school entering age. The standard of living dimension is measured by gross national income per capita.
• The above mentioned dimensions are measured by the following indicators:

• Life Expectancy Index: Calculated from Life expectancy at birth.
• Education Index: Calculated from Mean years of schooling and Expected years of schooling
• Income Index: Calculated from GNI per capita (PPP USD).

Categories of Human Development

• Human development is defined as the process of  expansion of human capabilities, a widening of choices, a fulfillment of human rights, an enhancement of freedom and opportunities and improving their well-being.
• According to the United Nations, there are three essential choices for people which are:  leading a long and healthy life; acquiring knowledge;  and  having  access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living. 
• Countries fall into four broad human development categories based on HDI index: Low human development, Medium human development, High Human Development and Very High Human Development.

Human Development Index 2021-22

• India ranked 132 out of 191 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index 2021-22.
• HDI 2021-22, finds the global decline in human development. Ninety percent of countries have registered a reduction in their Human Development Index (HDI) value in 2020 or 2021, reversing much of the progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Note

• The HDI simplifies and captures only part of what human development entails. It does not reflect on inequalities, poverty, human security, empowerment, etc.
• The 2010 Human Development Report came up for the first time with an Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI), which factors in inequalities in the three basic dimensions of human development, which are income, life expectancy and education.