India's Progress in Health, Education, and Human Development Index

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a metric compiled by the United Nations Development Programme to quantify a country’s average achievements in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living. The HDI simplifies and captures only part of what human development entails. It does not reflect inequalities, poverty, human security, empowerment, etc. The HDI can be used to question national policy choices, asking how two countries with the same level of GNI per capita can end up with different human development outcomes.

Understanding the Human Development Index (HDI)

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistic used to rank countries by level of "human development". It was first launched in 1990 and has been released annually ever since, with the exceptions of 2012 and 2020/21. The HDI is a summary measure for assessing long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living.

A country’s Human Development Index value is determined by aggregating the country’s scores in a vast assortment of indicators including life expectancy, literacy rate, rural populations’ access to electricity, GDP per capita, exports and imports, homicide rate, multidimensional poverty index, income inequality, internet availability, and many more. These indicators are compiled into a single number between 0 and 1.0, with 1.0 being the highest possible human development. Most developed countries have an HDI score of 0.8 or above, landing them in the very high human development tier. In contrast to this are the world’s least-developed countries (LDCs), which tend to have HDI scores below 0.55, in the “low human development” category. LDCs face unstable governments, widespread poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and poor education. Additionally, these countries have low income and low life expectancies, coupled with high birth rates.

The health dimension is assessed by life expectancy at birth, the education dimension is measured by mean 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 HDI uses the logarithm of income, to reflect the diminishing importance of income with increasing GNI. The scores for the three HDI dimension indices are then aggregated into a composite index using geometric mean.

Global Trends in Human Development

While HDI tends to trend upward globally over time, more than 90% of the 191 countries analyzed for the 2021/22 HDI report suffered a decline in overall HDI in either 2020 or 2021. The 2021/22 version of the HDI report outlined what it called an emerging “new uncertainty complex”, in which three rising factors - widespread and intensifying political and societal polarization, dangerous planetary climate change, and sweeping societal industrial transformation (such as increasing automation) - were generating new and unpredictable types of uncertainty. The report offers the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 war in Ukraine as example manifestations of this new uncertainty complex.

Global trends reflect that human development progress has slowed to an unprecedented 35-year low The 2025 human development report. "A matter of choice: people and possibilities in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)" shows that projections for 2024 reveal stalled progress on the HDI in all regions across the world. According to the report, global trends reflect that instead of seeing sustained recovery following the period of exceptional crises of 2020-2021, the report reveals unexpectedly weak progress. Excluding those crisis years, the meagre rise in global human development projected in this year’s report is the smallest increase since 1990. For the fourth year in a row inequality between Low HDI and Very High HDI countries continues to increase, according to the report.

India's HDI Ranking and Progress

India has registered a rise on the Human Development Index (HDI), ranking 130 out of 193 countries as per the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) released earlier this week by the United Nations Development Programme. The country ranked 133 in 2022. India's HDI value for 2023 is 0.685, positioning it at 130 out of 193 countries and territories. With an HDI value of 0.685 while India remains in the “medium human development category” it is moving closer to the threshold for high human development which calls for a value of more than 0.700. India’s HDI value has increased by over 53 per cent since 1990, growing faster than both the global and South Asian averages.India’s HDI value increases from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, placing the country in the medium human development category. India’s human development progress continues amid global challenges: UNDP’s 2025 Human Development Report highlights the role of AI in shaping future possibilities.

Key Data (Human Development Index) Changes in HDI value and indicators between 2022-2023

	2022	2023
Rank	133	130
HDI value	0.676	0.685
Life Expectancy (years)	71.70	72.00
Expected Years of Schooling (years)	12.96	12.95
Mean Years of Schooling (years)	6.57	6.88
Gross National Income Per Capita ($ 2021 PPP)	8475.68	9046.76

Factors Contributing to India's Improved HDI Ranking

"This progress has been fueled by economic growth and targeted social protection and welfare programmes,” UNDP notes. India life expectancy at birth contributed among other factors to the improved ranking which was 71.7 years in 2022 and rose to 72 years in 2023. Citing that life expectancy was 58.6 years in 1990 UNDP highlights that life expectancy is the highest since the inception of the index, signaling a strong recovery from the pandemic and its impact on life expectancy.The recent report added that India’s life expectancy is the highest since the inception of the index, signalling a strong recovery from the pandemic and its impact on life expectancy. Life expectancy rose from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, the highest recorded since the index began.

According to the report this can be attributed to a number of factors including the country’s overall push for investment and inclusive development. Angela Lusigi, resident representative, UNDP India said that rising life expectancy could be attributed to India’s robust recovery from the pandemic and its investments and commitment to long-term human well-being. Credit is also being given to renewed focus on women-led development and quality education and healthcare for all.

UNDP highlights that the national health programmes by successive governments such as the national rural health mission, ayushman bharat, janani suraksha yojana, and poshan abhiyaan have contributed significantly to this achievement. The report notes that national health programmes by successive governments such as the National Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Poshan Abhiyaan have also contributed significantly to this achievement.

Expected years of schooling remain almost the same at nearly 13 over 2022 and 2023. Mean years of schooling rose marginally to 6.9 in 2023 from 6.6 in the previous year.“Children today are expected to stay in school for 13 years on average, up from 8.2 years in 1990. Initiatives like the Right to Education Act, samagra shiksha Abhiyan, the national education policy 2020 have enhanced outcomes. However, quality and learning outcomes remain areas for continued focus. Besides this, children today are expected to stay in school for 13 years on average, up from 8.2 years in 1990. Initiatives like the Right to Education Act, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and the National Education Policy 2020 have enhanced outcomes.

On the economic front, India’s gross national income per capita rose over four times, from $2167.22 (1990) to $9046.76 (2023) based on 2021 PPP $. The report notes that India’s Gross National Income per capita rose over four times, from $2167.22 in 1990 to $9046.76 in 2023 and this can be attributed to investments in programmes like MGNREGA, Jan Dhan Yojana, and digital inclusion that have contributed to poverty reduction. “Over the years, India’s progress on economic growth and investments in programmes like MGNREGA, jan dhan yojana, and digital inclusion have contributed to poverty reduction. Importantly, 135 million Indians escaped multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21,” the UNDP said in its statement. Importantly, 135 million Indians escaped multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

Progress in Maternal and Child Health

India has continued to witness a significant improvement in key maternal and child health indicators. As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021 released by the Registrar General of India (RGI), on May 7, 2025, India has continued to witness a significant improvement in key maternal and child health indicators. The latest data indicates that India has witnessed a steady downward trend in maternal and child mortality towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 targets with its progress outpacing global average.

Data notes that maternal mortality ratio dropped significantly from 130 to 93 per lakh live births, infant mortality rate declined from 39 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 27 per 1000 live births in 2021; neonatal mortality rate has fallen from 26 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 19 per 1000 live births in 2021 and under-five mortality rate has dropped from 45 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 31 per 1000 live births in 2021.

“These sustained improvements are a result of strategic interventions and sustained efforts where the government’s flagship health schemes are seamlessly integrated to guarantee quality healthcare services-completely free of cost, with zero tolerance for denial of care. Ayushman Bharat, the world’s largest health assurance initiative, provides an annual health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family, ensuring financial protection and access to essential services. Also, focused interventions ensure that every pregnant woman is entitled to free institutional delivery, including Caesarean sections, along with complimentary transport, medication, diagnostics, and nutrition support in public health facilities are contributing factors,’’ said a senior Health Ministry official.

Read also: A New Approach to Indian Education

Challenges and Inequalities

However, challenges persist. The report highlights that inequality reduces India’s HDI by 30.7 per cent, one of the highest losses in the region. While health and education inequality have improved, income and gender disparities remain significant. Inequality reduces India’s HDI by 30.7%, one of the highest losses in the region. While health and education inequality have improved, income and gender disparities remain significant. Female labour force participation and political representation lag, though recent steps, such as the constitutional amendment reserving one-third of legislative seats for women-offer promise for transformative change. Female labour force participation and political representation lag, though recent steps-such as the constitutional amendment reserving one-third of legislative seats for women-offer promise for transformative change.

The report also underscores a broader global slowdown in human development. The 2025 HDR reveals that the current pace of progress is the slowest since 1990 - and India is no exception. “Had pre-2020 trends continued, the world would be on track to reach very high human development by 2030, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal timelines. Now, that milestone risks being delayed by decades,’’ notes the report.

India at the Forefront of AI for Human Development

The report places India in a unique position globally as a rising AI powerhouse with the highest self-reported AI skills penetration and growing domestic retention of talent-20% of Indian AI researchers now remain in the country, up from nearly zero in 2019. India is leveraging AI to deliver inclusive growth. From agriculture to healthcare to public service delivery, AI is being developed and deployed to solve complex challenges at scale.

Examples include:

AI helping farmers access insurance, credit, and advisories in regional languages;
Plans for a national compute facility to democratize AI access for researchers and startups;
AI-powered inclusive skill development in states like Tamil Nadu and Telangana, supported by UNDP.

A new global UNDP survey shows that 70% of people expect AI to boost productivity, and 64% believe it will create new jobs-with optimism highest among youth.

HDI and Complementary Metrics

Human development summary capturing achievements in the HDI and complementary metrics that take into account gender gaps, inequality, planetary pressures and multidimensional poverty.

Gender Development Index (GDI)

The GDI measures gender gaps in achievements in three basic dimensions of human development: health (measured by female and male life expectancy at birth), knowledge (measured by female and male expected years of schooling for children and mean years of schooling for adults aged 25 years and older) and living standards (measured by female and male estimated GNI per capita). It is a ratio of the female to the male HDI. The 2022 female HDI value for India is 0.582 in contrast with 0.684 for males, resulting in a GDI value of 0.852, placing it into Group 5.

Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI)

The IHDI adjusts the HDI for inequality in the distribution of each dimension across the population. The ‘loss’ in human development due to inequality is given by the difference between the HDI and the IHDI. As the inequality in a country increases, the loss in human development also increases. India's loss due to inequality is 31.1 percent, which lowers the HDI to 0.444 in 2022.

Gender Inequality index (GII)

The GII measures gender inequalities in three key dimensions - reproductive health, empowerment, and labour market. Reproductive health is measured by maternal mortality ratio and adolescent birth rates; empowerment is measured by the shares of parliamentary seats held and population with at least some secondary education by each gender; and labour market participation is measured by the labour force participation rates for women and men. India has a GII value of 0.437, ranking it 108 out of 166 countries in 2022.

Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI)

The GSNI assesses the impact of social beliefs on gender equality across four dimensions, including political, educational, economic, and physical integrity. It draws upon data from 91 countries, encompassing the World Values Survey waves 5 (2005-2009), 6 (2010-2014), and 7 (2017-2022), with the latest update reflecting information as of 12 January 2023. The core GSNI measures the percentage of people with at least one bias. The GSNI ranges from 0 to 1. Higher GSNI values indicate higher biases against gender equality and women's empowerment.

Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

The MPI looks beyond income and identifies multiple deprivations at the household level in three key dimensions: health, education and standard of living, comprising 10 indicators. People who experience deprivation in at least one third of these weighted indicators fall into the category of multidimensionally poor.

Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI (PHDI)

The PHDI adjusts the HDI for pressures on the planet to reflect a concern for intergenerational inequality. It is the level of human development adjusted by carbon dioxide emissions per person (production-based) and material footprint per capita to account for the excessive human pressure on the planet. In an ideal scenario where there are no pressures on the planet, the PHDI equals the HDI. However, as pressures increase, the PHDI falls below the HDI.

Regional Comparison

Bangladesh at the same rank as India at 130, Nepal at 145 and Bhutan at 125 share space with India in ‘medium human development’ category. Pakistan’s score worsened from 164 to 168 and Afghanistan improved by a point ranking at 181. Both countries figure in the low human development category. China at 78 and Sri Lanka at 89 continue to figure in the ‘high human development’ category.

Pakistan's HDI value for 2023 is 0.544- which puts the country in the Low human development category-positioning it at 168 out of 193 countries and territories.
Bangladesh's HDI value for 2023 is 0.685- which puts the country in the Medium human development category-placing it at 130 out of 193 countries and territories.
Neighbouring Nepal's HDI value for 2023 is 0.622-which puts the country in the Medium human development category-indexing it at 145 out of 193 countries and territories.
Sri Lanka's HDI value for 2023 is 0.776- which puts the country in the High human development category-positioning it at 89 out of 193 countries and territories.

Iceland with an HDI value of 0.972 ranked at the top of the Index followed by Norway and Switzerland and South Sudan was at the bottom at 193 with a value of 0.388.

tags: #india #health #and #education #human #development