India Slips To 131 In Human Development Index Ranking

India slipped two spots in the Human Development Index.

The world’s second-most populous nation ranked 131 among 189 countries in 2019 compared with 129 in the previous year, according to the 2020 Human Development Report published by the United Nations Development Programme on late Tuesday. India’s gross national income per capita fell to $6,681 in 2019 from $6,829 in 2018 on PPP basis, it said.

Norway topped the index, followed by Ireland and Switzerland. Among emerging Asian economies, Malaysia was ranked 62, along with other countries with very high human development. Sri Lanka, Thailand and China, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam were ranked lower but were classified as economies with high human development. India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Cambodia and Pakistan were ranked under countries with medium human development.

The Human Development Index is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development — a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and have a decent standard of living.

On country-wise groupings by development indicators, India was classified in the bottom third for most parameters, including quality of health and education and an adverse sex ratio, the report said. It was also ranked in the bottom third for a high percentage of vulnerable employees — employed people engaged as contributing family workers and own-account workers.

The nation, however, ranked in the top third for low unemployment rate and high number of seats held by women in local governance. It also ranked among the top third for most socioeconomic empowerment indicators such as the female share of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) graduates, holding financial accounts, and with mandatory paid maternity leave.

On reproductive health and family planning and on carbon dioxide emissions, India’s performance remained mixed, the report said.