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Human Development Index

UNDP's measure of health, education and income.

Written by Pratidin; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work

Published in the annual Human Development Report.

Practise this in the app: flashcards, quiz and a timed answer
Prelims

Quick recall

Who publishes the HDI?
The UNDP.
Since when?
1990.
What are its three dimensions?
Health, education and standard of living.
Which indicator measures health?
Life expectancy at birth.
Which indicators measure education?
Expected years and mean years of schooling.
Who developed the HDI?
Mahbub ul Haq, drawing on Amartya Sen's ideas.

Asked before in UPSC

Recurring theme: Growth versus human development outcomes in India

Mains
  1. 2025 · GS3 · 10 marks

    Distinguish between the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) with special reference to India. Why is the IHDI considered a better indicator of inclusive growth?

    Directly tests the HDI and IHDI: India's latest HDI value, rank and the loss from inequality give the core data for this answer.

  2. 2023 · GS1 · 15 marks

    Why did human development fail to keep pace with economic development in India?

    India's HDI rank relative to its GDP growth is the standard evidence for the gap this question asks you to explain.

  3. 2023 · GS2 · 10 marks

    The crucial aspect of development process has been the inadequate attention paid to Human Resource Development in India. Suggest measures that can address this inadequacy.

    HDI's health and education components are the benchmark for showing under-investment in human resource development.

  4. 2019 · GS2 · 10 marks

    Despite Consistent experience of High growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive.

    HDI dimensions (health, education, income) frame the answer on why growth has not translated into human development.

The basics

Why it matters

The Human Development Index moves beyond income to measure well-being through health, education and living standards. It is published by the UNDP.

3
Dimensions of the HDI
Published by the UNDP in its Human Development Report.

What it measures

The index combines several dimensions.

Human Development Index
  1. 1HealthLife expectancy at birth
  2. 2EducationExpected and mean years of schooling
  3. 3Standard of livingGross national income per capita (PPP)
  4. 4MethodGeometric mean of the three indices

You now know

  • Published by the UNDP since 1990.
  • Three dimensions: health, education, standard of living.
  • Developed by Mahbub ul Haq with Amartya Sen's capability approach.
  • Uses the geometric mean of dimension indices.

Go deeper

In one line: The HDI measures development as people's capabilities, not just income.

Why it matters for UPSC

HDI facts and critiques are regularly asked.

The core idea

Income is a means, not an end. The HDI reflects the Capability approach, and has companion indices like the Inequality-adjusted HDI.

Where to go next

In one line: The HDI is simple and influential but leaves out inequality, environment and freedom.

Companion indices

Inequality-adjusted HDI, Gender Development Index, Gender Inequality Index and the Multidimensional Poverty Index.

Critique

Averages hide distribution; the Capability approach is broader than three indicators.

Where to go next

Capability approach

Development as freedom to live well

In one line: Amartya Sen's capability approach judges development by what people are able to do and be.

Examples

Being healthy, educated and able to take part in society.

Influence

The basis for the HDI.

Where to go next

Inequality-adjusted HDI

HDI after accounting for inequality

In one line: The IHDI adjusts the HDI for inequality within each dimension.

Meaning

The gap between HDI and IHDI shows the loss due to inequality.

Introduced

2010.

Where to go next

Prelims-style quiz

  1. The Human Development Report is published by:

    1. IMF
    2. World Bank
    3. UNDP
    4. WHO
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) UNDP. UNDP.

  2. Which is NOT an HDI dimension?

    1. Standard of living
    2. Health
    3. Gender equality
    4. Education
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Gender equality. Gender is covered by separate indices.

  3. Consider the following:
    1. The HDI uses GNI per capita at PPP.
    2. The HDI was first published in 2000.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. First published in 1990.

  4. The HDI draws on the capability approach of:

    1. Kaushik Basu
    2. Amartya Sen
    3. Jeffrey Sachs
    4. Joseph Stiglitz
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Amartya Sen. Amartya Sen.

Syllabus

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