India's Performance on the Human Development Index (HDI)
India has moved up three positions on the latest Human Development Index (HDI), from rank 133 in 2022 to 130 in 2023, but still remains in the bottom half of the table of 193 countries.
HDI Value and Growth
- India's HDI value improved from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023.
- The country's HDI value has increased by over 53% since 1990, surpassing both global and South Asian averages.
Progress in Key Areas
- Life Expectancy: Increased from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023 due to initiatives like the National Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, and Poshan Abhiyaan.
- Education: Mean years of schooling rose, with children staying in school for 13 years compared to 8.2 years in 1990, owing to national education programs.
- Multidimensional Poverty: Reduced significantly, with 135 million Indians escaping poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.
Comparative HDI Rankings
- China ranks at 75, Sri Lanka at 78, and Bhutan at 127.
- India is on par with Bangladesh (rank 130) but above Nepal (145), Myanmar (149), and Pakistan (168).
Challenges and Inequalities
Growing inequality and gender disparities have reduced India's HDI by 30.7%, one of the highest losses in the region.
Recommendations
- Increase expenditure on public social infrastructure to improve access to quality education and healthcare.
- Current Expenditure: Health expenditure is between 3.7% and 4% of GDP, and education spending is 3-4%, both inadequate compared to other countries.
- Government needs to address these deficiencies through suitable policy responses and fiscal adjustments.