In a first, global HDI values dip, pulled down by covid and war
NEW DELHI: India is placed 132 out of 191 nations in the 2021 Human Development Index (HDI) of the UNDP’s Human Development Report as the globe emerges from the Covid-19 epidemic. In the 2020 HDI, India placed 130 out of 189 nations. Since the HDI was computed for 191 countries this year rather than the 189 that it was for in 2020, according to UNDP, it is erroneous to compare the rankings across nations.
The decline in life expectancy from 69.7 to 67.2 years in India is consistent with worldwide trends and explains why the HDI score for the “medium human development” category fell from 0.645 in 2020 to 0.633 in 2021. The mean number of years spent in education in India is 6.7 years, while the anticipated number is 11.9 years. The GNI (gross national income) per person is $6,590. The study reveals that despite many catastrophes like COVID-19, the Ukraine War, and potentially disastrous planetary shifts, nine out of ten nations have lagged behind in human growth.
The global HDI value dropped for the first time ever, returning the globe to the period right after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The recent reduction in HD is mostly due to a global decline in life expectancy, which fell from 72.8 years in 2019 to 71.4 years in 2021. Meanwhile, the gender gap widened internationally by 6.7%. India is rated 122 out of 170 countries in the Gender Inequality Index, with a score of 0.490.
India’s HDI rating has decreased, although it still outperforms the regional average for human development in south Asia. The UNDP statement emphasized that “India’s HDI value has been progressively catching up to the world average since 1990, suggesting a quicker than the global rate of advancement in human development.”
Four factors are used to determine HDI: mean years of education, predicted years of education, life expectancy at birth, and GNI per capita. The most current research shows that global progress is stagnating. The study emphasizes how “Human Development” reversed five years of growth in 2020 and 2021 by declining for two years in a row.
This is consistent with the overall downward trend, which shows that for the first time in 32 years, human progress has slowed down globally. However, Shoko Noda, the UNDP Resident Representative in India, draws attention to the fact that, in contrast to 2019, the impact of inequality on human development is less pronounced. According to the UNDP, India is closing the gender disparity in human development faster than the rest of the globe.
The UN Human Development Index 2021-22 shows a drop in India’s ranking
For the first time in 32 years, global human progress has paused.
India was ranked 132 out of 191 countries in the 2021–22 UNHDI, which was released on September 8, 2022. The country came in the 131st position the year before.
According to the assessment, the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and climatic issues together have reduced the human development score in 90% of the countries. This halted the UN-mandated sustainable development objectives’ forward march.
India’s human development rating decreased from 0.645 in the 2020 report to 0.633 in 2021–22 as a result of these converging problems. The nation was now classified as having a medium level of human development, according to the most recent research.
The position reflects the level of a country’s health, education, and average income. It is assessed using the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, the mean years of education, the projected years of education, and the life expectancy at birth.
According to studies by the UN Development Programme, a global drop in life expectancy is a key contributor to the recent decline of the Human Development Index.
According to the numbers, India’s life expectancy also fell, from 69.7 years to 67.2 years.
In India, 6.7 years on average are spent in school, compared to 11.9 years as expected. The research said that the GNI per capita is $6,590 (Rs 5.25 lakh).
According to the report, the average life expectancy dropped from 72.8 years in 2019 to 71.4 years in 202.
The UN said that after five years of development, “the global HDI has dropped two years in a row, in 2020 and 2021.”
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The study emphasized a few areas where India made progress. “The influence of inequality on human development is less than it was in 2019. In terms of human development, India is bridging the gender gap faster than the rest of the world. The environment has suffered less as a result of this development. Investing in health and education has brought India’s level of human development closer to the average for the world since 1990, according to the international organization.
According to the UN, “the country is increasing access to clean water, sanitation, and reasonably priced clean electricity.” The country’s recent policy initiatives have improved the disadvantaged population groups’ access to social protection, it was noted.
Edited by Prakriti Arora
