Human Development

Total Questions: 48

21. Which one is correct in the ascending order of HDI 2019 ranking of the following countries? [B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2020]

(a) Brazil, India, South Africa, China
(b) Brazil, China, South Africa, India
(c) South Africa, China, India, Brazil
(d) India, China, South Africa, Brazil
(e) None of the above / More than one of the above

Correct Answer: (b) Brazil, China, South Africa, India

Solution:As per the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s Human Development Report 2020, the ascending order of Human Development Index (HDI), 2019 rankings of the given countries were as follows: Brazil (84), China (85), South Africa (114), India (131). In the HDI, 2022 (given in the Human Development Report 2023/2024), the rankings of the given countries are as follows: China (75), Brazil (89), South Africa (110) and India (134).

22. What is the Human Development Index (HDI) rank of India in the Human Development Report 2020 of UNDP? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) 128
(b) 129
(c) 130
(d) 131

Correct Answer: (d) 131

23. As per the Human Development Report 2015, consider the following statements: [R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2016]

A. India ranks 130 out of 183 countries.

B. HDI is based on the indices for life expectancy, education and PCI.

C. In comparison to other nations in the BRICS, India has the lowest rank.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) A and B only
(b) B and C only
(c) B only
(d) A, B and C

Correct Answer: (d) A, B and C

Solution:As per the Human Development Report 2015, India was placed at 130th rank among the 188 countries/territories was As per the Human Development Report 2015, India was is based on the indices for life expectancy at birth, level HDI education and per capita income (GNI per capita PPPS). As per that report, among the then BRICS group of nations, India was ranked lowest. Hence, all three given statements are correct. As per the Human Development Report 2023/ 2024, India ranks 134 among the 193 countries/territories in HDI, 2022 while Ethiopia has the lowest rank (176) among the present BRICS group of nations.

24. Which country's Human Development Index rank is first as per Human Development Report 2018? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]

(a) Switzerland
(b) Germany
(c) Ireland
(d) Norway

Correct Answer: (d) Norway

Solution:As per Human Development Report (HDR) 2018, Norway was ranked first in Human Development Index (HDI) for 2017. As per the HDR 2023/2024 the top 5 countries in HDI for 2022 are as follow:

Rank	Country	HDI Value (2022)
1	Switzerland	0.967
2	Norway	0.966
3	Iceland	0.959
4	Hong Kong, China (SAR)	0.956
5	Denmark, Sweden	0.952

25. In the year 2014, out of 186 countries of the world, India's rank in Human Development Index was: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015, U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2004, U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001]

(a) 138th
(b) 135th
(c) 134th
(d) 130th

Correct Answer: (b) 135th

Solution:As per Human Development Report 2014, India was ranked 135 among 187 countries/territories in HDI for 2013, while according to Human Development Report 2015, India was ranked 130 among 188 countries/territories in HDI for 2014. UPPSC had given the answer 130th, on the basis of Human Development Report 2015. As per the Human Development Report 2023/2024, India's rank is 134 among 193 countries/ territories in the Human Development Index for 2022.

26. Improvement in which among the following will make India's rank high in HDI of UNDP? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

1. Availability of safe drinking water

2. More credit to farmers

3. More children going to school

4. More adults getting literate

Select the correct answer from the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1,3 and 4
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (d) 3 and 4

Solution:India will get a high rank in Human Development Index of UNDP, if more children go to school and there is an improvement in adult literacy, which will increase the education level under Human Development Index. Thus, it is clear that option (d) is the right answer.

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).

27. According to the Human Development Report 1997, out of six crore Indian children with less than four years of age, adequate nutrition is not available to: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999]

(a) 41%
(b) 45%
(c) 49%
(d) 53%

Correct Answer: (d) 53%

Solution:As per the Human Development Report 1997, out of six crore (60 million) Indian children with less than four years of age, nearly 53% remained under-nourished. Highlights of HDR 2025:

The 2025 HDR, titled "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Al", highlights the critical role of artificial intelligence in shaping the next chapter of human development.
The study revealed stalled progress on the HDI in all regions across the world and warned that increasing trade tensions, a worsening debt crisis, and the rise of jobless industrialisation risked making the situation worse.
Iceland, with an HDI value of 0.972, ranked at the top of the Index, followed by Norway and Switzerland.South Sudan was at the bottom at 193 with 0.388.
India is ranked 130th on the Human Development Index (HDI), out of 193 countries and territories.
India improved its HDI value from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, with the country remaining in the medium human development category, although moving closer to the threshold for high human development (HDI ≥ 0.700).
It also noted that India's HDI value has increased by over 53 percent since 1990, growing faster than both the global and South Asian averages.
Among India's neighbours, China (75th), Sri Lanka (78th), and Bhutan (127th) are ranked above India, while Bangladesh (130th) is ranked at par. Nepal (145th), Myanmar (149th), and Pakistan (168th) are ranked below India.
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).
India was the only low- or middle-income country among the top 10 in the Global Al Index, with the highest level of self-reported Al skills penetration.
The country also showed improved retention of domestic Al talent: 20 percent of Indian Al researchers reportedly remained in India in 2023, compared to almost none in 2019.

28. Which of the following organization calls India's economic growth as 'Jobless', 'Rootless', 'Ruthless', 'Voiceless' and 'Futureless'? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]

(a) IMF
(b) World Bank
(c) UNDP
(d) WTO

Correct Answer: (c) UNDP

Solution:In the 1996 Human Development Report, UNDP described the economic development path of developing countries as 'Jobless', 'Rootless', 'Ruthless', 'Voiceless', and 'Futureless'.

Highlights of HDR 2025:

The 2025 HDR, titled "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Al", highlights the critical role of artificial intelligence in shaping the next chapter of human development.
The study revealed stalled progress on the HDI in all regions across the world and warned that increasing trade tensions, a worsening debt crisis, and the rise of jobless industrialisation risked making the situation worse.
Iceland, with an HDI value of 0.972, ranked at the top of the Index, followed by Norway and Switzerland.South Sudan was at the bottom at 193 with 0.388.
India is ranked 130th on the Human Development Index (HDI), out of 193 countries and territories.
India improved its HDI value from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, with the country remaining in the medium human development category, although moving closer to the threshold for high human development (HDI ≥ 0.700).
It also noted that India's HDI value has increased by over 53 percent since 1990, growing faster than both the global and South Asian averages.
Among India's neighbours, China (75th), Sri Lanka (78th), and Bhutan (127th) are ranked above India, while Bangladesh (130th) is ranked at par. Nepal (145th), Myanmar (149th), and Pakistan (168th) are ranked below India.
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).
India was the only low- or middle-income country among the top 10 in the Global Al Index, with the highest level of self-reported Al skills penetration.
The country also showed improved retention of domestic Al talent: 20 percent of Indian Al researchers reportedly remained in India in 2023, compared to almost none in 2019.

29. Gender Inequality Index (GII) was introduced in which Human Development Report (HDR) of UNDP? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) HDR 2007
(b) HDR 2008
(c) HDR 2009
(d) HDR 2010

Correct Answer: (d) HDR 2010

Solution:The UNDP introduced the Gender Inequality Index (GII) in the 2010 Human Development Report. The GII is a composite measure, reflecting inequality in achievements between women and men in three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market participation. The health dimension is measured by the maternal mortality ratio and the adolescent fertility rate. The empowerment dimension is measured by the share of parliamentary seats held by each gender, and by secondary and higher education attainment levels. The labour dimension is measured by women's participation in the workforce. The GII varies between 0 (when women and men fare equally) and 1 (when men or women fare poorly compared to the other in all dimensions).

Directions: The next two items are based on the following table. Study the same carefully and attempt the two items that follow it:

Country	Life Expectancy at birth (1995)	Infant Mortality Rate (Per 1000 live births, 1996)	Adult Literacy Rate (Percent, 1995)
India	62.4	72	52
China	69.2	38	84
Indonesia	64.0	47	84
Malaysia	71.4	11	84
Thailand	69.5	31	94
Korea	71.7	06	95
Philippines	67.4	32	95

30. Which one of the following statements is false? [LA.S. (Pre) 2000]

(a) All countries other than India have over 80% literacy
(b) Malaysia and Korea have Life Expectancy higher than all other countries
(c) Higher the adult literacy lower is the infant mortality.
(d) The life expectancy at birth in India is almost the same as that of Indonesia

Correct Answer: (c) Higher the adult literacy lower is the infant mortality.

Solution:From the data of the given table, it is clear that in relation between adult literacy and infant morality, statement of option (c) is not followed. For instance both in Malaysia and Indonesia adult literacy rate is equal (84%), while Infant mortality rate is 11 in Malaysia and it is 47 in Indonesia. Likewise despite of being high adult literacy rate in Thailand and Philippines, their infant mortality rates are much higher than Malaysia.

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