Human Development (Social Development)

Total Questions: 48

41. According to Human Development Index of 2001, arrange the following States in descending order and select the correct answer from the codes given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]

A. Punjab

B. Bihar

C. Kerala

D. Uttar Pradesh

Correct Answer: (b) B, A, D, C
Solution:In the National Human Development Index 2001 Kerala was at the top. Punjab was at second place after Kerala. UP was at 13th and Bihar was at 15th spot. As per the latest available data, among all States of India, Kerala is at first, Punjab is at fourth, Uttar Pradesh is at 28th and Bihar is at 29th place in terms of Human Development Index value for 2019.

42. Assertion (A): Kerala stands first in terms of Human Development Index. [U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2011]

Reason (R): Its unemployment rate is the highest in the country.

Select the correct answer from the code given below: Code:

Correct Answer: (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:As per the India Human Development Report, (IHDR) 2011, Kerala was at first place in terms of Human Development Index among all States/UTs of India. According to 2011 Census, the unemployment rate in Kerala was also highest in the country. Thus, Assertion (A) and Reason (R) both are correct but Reason (R) does not explain the Assertion (A).

43. Which of the following States had the highest Human Development Index in 2008? [U.P.U.D.A../L.D.A. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (a) Uttar Pradesh
Solution:As per IHDR 2011, in the year 2008 UP has the highest ranking (18th) among the given States. Jharkhand (19th), Bihar (21) and Odisha (22nd) had the lower ranks than UP.
  • The HDI captures there dimensions which are long and healthy life, knowledge/Education and a decent standard of living.
  • The health dimension is assessed by life expectancy at birth, the education dimension is measured by means of 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 above mentioned dimensions are measured by the following indicators:
  • Life Expectancy Index: Calculated from Life expectancy at birth.
  • Education Index: Calculated from Mean years of schooling and Expected years of schooling
  • Income Index: Calculated from GNI per capita (PPP USD).

44. The value of Human Development Index of Bihar in 2019 was: [B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2022]

Correct Answer: (d) 0.574
Solution:The value of Human Development Index (HDI) of Bihar in 2019 was at 0.574, which was the lowest among all States of India. Kerala had the highest HDI score of 0.782 in 2019 among all States.
  • The HDI captures there dimensions which are long and healthy life, knowledge/Education and a decent standard of living.
  • The health dimension is assessed by life expectancy at birth, the education dimension is measured by means of 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 above mentioned dimensions are measured by the following indicators:
  • Life Expectancy Index: Calculated from Life expectancy at birth.
  • Education Index: Calculated from Mean years of schooling and Expected years of schooling
  • Income Index: Calculated from GNI per capita (PPP USD).

45. With reference to the Bare Necessities Index (BNI), con- sider the following statements: [B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2022]

1. The Economic Survey has come up with the Bare Necessities Index at rural and urban levels.

2. The BNI has been created for all States for 2018 only,

3. The BNI is based on 26 indicators.

4. The BNI consists of six dimensions.

Which of the above statements are correct?

 

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only
Solution:Economic Survey 2020-21 presented a Bare Necessities Index (BNI) at the rural, urban and all India level. This index underlined the importance of access to bare necessities of housing, water, sanitation, electricity and clean cooking fuel which are consumed by all the members of the household and which touch the life of every member.

The BNI summarises 26 indicators on five dimensions viz., water, sanitation, housing, micro-environment, and other facilities. The BNI has been created for all States for 2012 and 2018 using data from two NSO rounds viz., 69th and 76th on Drinking Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Housing Conditions in India. Hence, among the given statements, only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

46. As per the fourth edition of State Health Index released by the NITI Aayog in December 2021, which one of the following States performed best among the 'Smaller States' category? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2021]

Correct Answer: (c) Mizoram
Solution:NITI Aayog released the fourth edition of the State Health Index for 2019-20 in December, 2021. The report, titled 'Healthy States, Progressive India', ranked States and Union Territories on their year-on-year incremental performance in health outcomes as well as their overall status.

On overall ranking based on the composite index score in 2019-20, the top-ranking States were Kerala and Tamil Nadu among the Larger States', Mizoram and Tripura among the 'Smaller States', and Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu and Chandigarh among the UTs. Among the 'Larger States', in terms of annual incremental performance, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Telangana were the top three ranking States.

47. As per latest Education Development Index' released in February 2011, which are the four States at the top? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]

Correct Answer: (a) Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Delhi
Solution:In February 2011, National University for Educational Planning and Administration had issued the Education Development Index (EDI) 2009-10. Following was the order of top states and union territories in that index: 1. Puducherry, 2. Lakshadweep, Kerala, 4. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 5. Tamil Nadu, 6. Chandigarh, 7. Punjab, 8.Delhi.

Thus, option (a) was the correct answer.

As per the 'School Education Quality Index' (SEQI) released by the NITI Aayog in 2019 (with reference year 2016-17), among 20 large States, Kerala was the best performer with first rank, while Tamil Nadu was at second place. Among smaller States, Tripura was the best performer with first rank, while Chandigarh topped the list of Union Territories.

48. According to the latest survey report, the percentage of school-going children in the age group of 6-14 years is: [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]

Correct Answer: (c) 93%
Solution:In the context of question period, option (c) was the correct answer. As per the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) (Rural) 2022 (Released in January, 2023), the percentage of school-going children in the age group of 6-14 is 98.4% in 2022. In this age group 72.9% children enrolled in government schools and 25.1% children enrolled in private schools, while 0.5% children enrolled with Madrasas and EGS. ASER (Rural) 2023 (Released in January, 2024) is focused on the 14-18 age group.