India jumps four places to rank 130th on Human Development Index: UNDP report
The country's HDI score rose from 0.644 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, driven by improvements in health, education, and income. Despite this, India remains in the medium human development category, sharing the same HDI value as Bangladesh, though key metrics differ. Pakistan ranks 168th with a score of 0.544 and Nepal at 145th with 0.622, while Sri Lanka holds the 89th position at 0.776.
India's life expectancy also rose to 72 years in 2023 from 67.7 in 2022, while expected schooling years increased to 13 from 12.6, with average schooling years increasing to 6.9 from 6.57. Meanwhile, the per capita Gross National Income (GNI) jumped from $6,951 to $9,047 (PPP 2021). Bangladesh, with a matching HDI score, reported higher life expectancy (74.7 years), but lower GNI per capita ($8,498).
The metric adjusted by inequality reveals a sharper picture, as India's HDI dropped to 0.475 when accounting for disparities in health, education, and income — a 30.66% decline. Gender gaps too persist. The Gender Development Index (GDI) stands at 0.874, with women scoring 0.631 compared to 0.722 for men. India ranks 102nd on the Gender Inequality Index (GII) at 0.403, reflecting challenges in reproductive health, political representation, and workforce participation.
Among BRICS nations, India trails Brazil (89th), Russia (59th), China (75th), and South Africa (110th). Regionally, Sri Lanka leads, while Nepal and Bhutan lag. India's GNI per capita rank is seven positions below its HDI rank, indicating income remains a relative weakness compared to health and education.
Global HDI progress has slowed to its weakest pace since 1990, excluding the pandemic years, as per the report. The gap between Very High and Low HDI countries has widened for four consecutive years, reversing decades of narrowing disparities. All regions face stalled HDI growth projections for 2024.
'If 2024's sluggish progress becomes 'the new normal', that 2030 milestone could slip by decades — making our world less secure, more divided, and more vulnerable to economic and ecological shocks,' said UNDP administrator Achim Steiner.
The report notes the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate development but warns infrastructure gaps and talent migration could deepen inequalities. India, which reports the world's highest self-reported AI skill prevalence, plans a shared computing facility to support AI research and startups. Current applications include real-time farm assistance, local-language subsidy access, and farmer insurance services.
A global survey tied to the report shows mixed public sentiment: half of respondents fear job automation, yet six in ten expect AI to create opportunities. In low- and medium-HDI countries, 70% predict AI-driven productivity gains, with two-thirds planning to adopt the technology in education, healthcare, or work within a year. Only 13% cite job loss concerns.
UNDP officials urge sustained policy focus on inclusive growth and global cooperation to address systemic gaps. 'As Artificial Intelligence continues its rapid advance across so many aspects of our lives, we should consider its potential for development,' Steiner said. 'New capabilities are emerging almost daily, and while AI is no panacea, the choices we make hold the potential to reignite human development and open new pathways and possibilities.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
2 days ago
- India.com
Show Me One Photo Of Any Damage In India: NSA Doval Calls Out Foreign Media Reporting Of Operation Sindoor
National Security Advisor Doval on Friday called out foreign media for their reportage on Operation Sindoor, challenging them to provide proof of any damage to Indian infrastructure from Pakistani strikes. Speaking at the 62nd convocation of IIT Madras, Doval also praised Operation Sindoor, stating that the Indian Army took just 23 minutes to precisely strike nine terror targets in Pakistan. 'Foreign press said that Pakistan did this and that. You tell me—show me one photograph, one image, which shows any damage to any Indian structure, even a glass pane being broken. They wrote these things. The images only showed 13 air bases in Pakistan before and after 10th May, whether it was in Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, or Chaklala,' Doval said. 'We decided to target nine terrorist sites in a criss-cross pattern across Pakistan, not just in the border areas. We hit nowhere else except those targets. The operation was precise to the point where we knew exactly who was where. The entire operation took just 23 minutes,' he added. Highlighting the pivotal role of indigenous defence capabilities, Doval urged the development of more homegrown technology. 'We have to develop our indigenous technology. We are really proud of how much indigenous content was used—whether it was BrahMos missiles, our integrated air control and command system, or our radars,' he said. Doval also emphasized that Artificial Intelligence is a 'game changer' and urged India to make it a focal point to lead and develop in the future. 'AI is one of the great game changers. It will change the world every year, making it unrecognisable from today. Its applications will be diverse—not only in research and development, but also in machine learning, defence, robotics, medicine, and finance. If India is to lead and develop, we must make AI a focal point,' he said. The Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. During the operation, Indian forces destroyed nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in air strikes on May 7. Along with BrahMos missiles, the indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile system played a key role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Rajeshwar submits AI based traffic system proposal to CM
1 2 3 Lucknow: In a visionary push for digital governance and urban reform, Sarojininagar MLA Rajeshwar Singh on Thursday submitted a comprehensive proposal to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, advocating for the implementation of an Artificial Intelligence-based Intelligent Traffic Management System (AI-ITMS) in Lucknow. Highlighting issues such as over 28 lakh registered vehicles, Rs 10,000 crore in annual productivity losses, and a 33% rise in emissions, the proposal outlines how AI can revolutionise traffic efficiency, emergency response, and environmental health. Rajeshwar Singh emphasised that AI-enabled traffic systems—already in use in cities like Bengaluru, Surat, and Noida—can cut travel times by up to 25%, reduce fuel consumption by 20%, and improve ambulance response times by 40%. Suggested pilot zones include Hazratganj–Parivartan Chowk, Charbagh–Alambagh, Shaheed Path, Aminabad, and key intersections along NH-27. The proposal also calls for a task force comprising the UP Police, LDA, and tech institutions such as IIT Kanpur and C-DAC. Further, Rajeshwar Singh reiterated his proposal to establish a 'Uttar Pradesh Artificial Intelligence Commission' to guide the long-term integration of AI in governance. This initiative aligns with the CM's Smart City vision and promises safer roads, cleaner air, and faster emergency services—positioning Lucknow as a model for smart urban mobility.
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Chinese Spies, Father And Son, Caught Stealing Ukraine's Neptune Missile Secrets
Ukraine has arrested a Chinese father and son suspected of attempting to steal classified technology related to its Neptune missile programme. The missile system is a centrepiece of Kyiv's domestic defence industry and the weapon credited with sinking Russia's Moskva warship in 2022. In a statement, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said the two Chinese nationals were detained in a counterintelligence operation in Kyiv. The 24-year-old son, a former student at a Kyiv technical university, was allegedly caught receiving technical documentation related to the RK-360MC Neptune missile system. He had remained in Ukraine after being expelled from the university in 2023 for academic underperformance. According to the SBU, he attempted to recruit a Ukrainian citizen involved in weapons development to gain access to sensitive military research. His father, who resides in China but made regular visits to Ukraine, was later arrested after allegedly coordinating his son's intelligence-gathering activities and attempting to transfer the materials to Chinese special services. The agency said the two men were apprehended during different stages of the operation and described the father as personally overseeing the espionage effort. A Ukrainian official told Reuters that the pair are the first Chinese nationals detained for spying since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. The SBU's statement, also posted on its official Telegram channel, detailed that investigators found digital evidence on the suspects' mobile devices, including correspondence indicating their coordinated effort to smuggle classified information out of Ukraine. The Neptune missile system has emerged as a symbol of Ukraine's indigenous defence capability. Developed domestically, it gained global attention when Ukrainian forces used it to destroy the Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. With its advanced targeting and anti-ship capabilities, the missile plays a pivotal role in Kyiv's defence against ongoing Russian aggression. Both suspects have been formally charged with espionage under Article 114 of Ukraine's Criminal Code. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison and the confiscation of their assets, according to the SBU. The legal proceedings are being conducted under the supervision of the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office. The arrests came amid rising Ukrainian concerns about Beijing's role in the war. While China has sought to maintain a public image of neutrality, Kyiv has in recent months accused Beijing of aiding Russia's military effort.
