According to the latest United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report, India's Human Development Index (HDI) value experienced an increase in 2022, rising from 0.633 to 0.644 after a decline in 2021.
This positive shift has placed India in the medium human development category, with a ranking of 134 out of 193 countries and territories, up from 135 out of 191 countries in 2021.
India witnessed improvements across various HDI indicators, including life expectancy, education, and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. Life expectancy reached 67.7 years, expected years of schooling rose to 12.6, mean years of schooling increased to 6.57, and GNI per capita saw growth from $6,542 to $6,951.
The country has also made strides in reducing gender inequality, with a Gender Inequality Index (GII) value of 0.437 in 2022, surpassing both the global and South Asian averages. However, India still faces challenges, particularly in narrowing the gender gap in the labor force participation rate.
Caitlin Wiesen, Resident Representative of UNDP India, highlighted India's significant progress in human development since 1990, emphasizing the country's commitment to improving the quality of life for its citizens.
The report cautioned that while global HDI projections reached record highs in 2023, progress remains uneven, disproportionately benefiting wealthier nations.
Published as part of the UNDP's report titled "Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarised World," the data underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to address disparities and enhance human development worldwide.
