India's Human Development Index Progress
India has shown progress in the Human Development Index (HDI), advancing from a rank of 133 in 2022 to 130 out of 193 countries in 2025. The HDI value increased to 0.685 in 2023 from 0.676 in 2022. This improvement is notable considering the global challenges and the aftermath of the pandemic.
Key Indicators of HDI
- Life Expectancy: Reached a peak of 72 years in 2023, rising from 58.6 years in 1990.
- Education: Children are now expected to stay in school for an average of 13 years, compared to 8.2 years in 1990.
- Gross National Income (GNI) per Capita: Increased from $2,167.22 in 1990 to $9,046.76 in 2023.
Contributing Factors and Challenges
- Government Initiatives:
- MGNREGA
- Right to Education Act
- National Rural Health Mission
- Challenges:
- Rising inequality, particularly income and gender disparities.
- Female labour participation at 41.7% in 2023-24 needs further support.
- Lag in women's political representation.
- Underprivileged children still struggle to access education.
Impact of Inequality
Despite progress, income and gender inequalities have reduced India's HDI by 30.7%, one of the highest losses in the region.
AI and Future Prospects
- India has increased its retention of AI researchers from nearly zero in 2019 to 20%.
- AI offers potential benefits across various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, education, and public services.
- However, careful policy and safeguards are necessary to prevent AI from exacerbating existing inequalities.
