HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)

Context: Humanity appeared to be making progress in addressing economic inequality for two decades, but recent findings from the United Nations 2023 Human Development Index indicate a concerning reversal, suggesting a return to square one.Human Development Index (HDI)

• About: It is a measurement system used by the United Nations to evaluate the level of individual human development in each country. 
• Released by: United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
• key dimensions of human development:

oA long and healthy life, 

oBeing knowledgeable, and 

oHave a decent standard of living. 

• Each of the four components is normalized to scale between 0 and 1, and then the geometric mean of the three components is calculated.
• India’s Rank 2023: 132nd among 191 countries

Key Point of HDI

• The 2023 Human Development Index (HDI) has soared to a new peak after a significant downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
• Disparity Between Rich and Poor Nations: Wealthier nations have seen unparalleled development, while half of the world's poorest countries continue to struggle below pre-COVID levels.
• Emergence of the "Democracy Paradox": Despite widespread support for democracy, there's a concerning trend where citizens endorse leaders who may undermine democratic values.
• Fueling Political Polarization: Feelings of powerlessness and lack of control over government decisions contribute to increased political polarization and inward-focused policy approaches.