India with a population of over 1.20 billion is ranked 130 among 189 countries of the world in
terms of the Human Development Index (HDI). With the composite HDI value of 0.640, India
finds herself grouped with countries showing medium human development. Low scores in the
HDI is a matter of serious concern but, some reservations have been expressed about the
approach as well as indicators selected to calculate the index values and ranking of the
states/countries. Lack of sensitivity to the historical factors like colonization, imperialism and
neo-imperialism, socio-cultural factors like human rights violation, social discrimination on the
basis of race, religion, gender and caste, social problems like crimes, terrorism, and war and
political factors like nature of the state, forms of the government (democracy or dictatorship)
level of empowerment are some factors that are very crucial in determining the nature of
human development. These aspects have special significance in the case of India and many
other developing countries.
Country HDI value Rank
Norway 0.953 1
Germany 0.936 5
USA 0.924 13
UK 0.922 14
Russian 0.816 49
Malaysia 0.802 57
Sri Lanka 0.77 76
Brazil 0.759 79
China 0.752 86
Egypt 0.696 115
Indonesia 0.694 116
South Africa 0.699 113
Using the indicators selected by the UNDP, the Planning Commission of India also prepared the
Human Development Report for India. It used states and the Union Territories as the units of
analysis. Subsequently, each state government also started preparing the state level Human
Development Reports, using districts as the units of analysis. Although, the final HDI by the
Planning Commission of India has been calculated by taking the three indicators, yet, this report
also discussed other indicators like economic attainment, social empowerment, social
distributive justice, accessibility, hygiene and various welfare measures undertaken by the state.
Indicators of Economic Attainments
Rich resource base and access to these resources by all, particularly the poor, downtrodden and
the marginalized is the key to productivity, well-being and human development. Gross National
Product (GNP) and its per capita availability are taken as measures to assess the resource base/
endowment of any country. Economic attainment and the well-being of individuals depend on
economic growth, employment opportunities and access to assets. Over the years the per capita
income and consumption expenditure in India has increased. As a result, there has been a
consistent decline in the proportion of the population living below the poverty line. The percentage
of persons below the poverty line in 2011-12 has been estimated as 25.7% in rural areas, 13.7% in
urban areas and 21.9% for the country as a whole.
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer ANY TEN questions from
the eleven given below:
i. According to the passage, one of the reasons contributing to India’s low HDI could be:
a. Lack of sensitivity to historical factors
b. Unity of race, religion, gender and caste
c. Sensitivity to imperialism and neo-imperialism
d. Increase in democratic government
ii. Pick the options that list statements that are NOT TRUE according to the passage:
A. Low scores in HDI is a matter of great indifference
B. The percentage of people below the poverty line in 2011-12 for rural areas is 25.7%
C. Over the years the per capita income and consumption expenditure in India has
D. The Planning Commission of India does not base its Human Development Report on the
indicators selected by the UNDP
a. A and D
b. B and D
c. A and B
d. C and D
iii. The word imperialism in paragraph 2 means the same as:
a. freedom
b. unity
c. domination
d. democracy
iv. Based on the paragraph, choose the option that correct states:
A. C.
B. D.
v. “Rich resource base and access to these resources by all” – by all refers to the group of:
a. Aristocrats
b. Only sections and groups of a marginalized community
c. Only those poor people living in urban areas
d. People from all sections and groups of communities
vi. Based on the given tabular representation, choose the option that lists the statements that are
TRUE with respect to the countries’ HDI value and rank:
A. India’s HDI report presents a serious concern.
B. UK and USA have lower HDI scores
C. Norway presents the best HDI report among all countries
D. Germany is the third country to have an impressive HDI report
a. A and B
b. A and C
c. B and D
d. B and C
Answers
C
b.
approach as well as indicators selected to calculate the index values and ranking of the
states/countries. Lack of sensitivity to the historical factors like colonization, imperialism and
neo-imperialism, socio-cultural factors like human rights violation, social discrimination on the
basis of race, religion, gender and caste, social problems like crimes, terrorism, and war and
political factors like nature of the state, forms of the government (democracy or dictatorship)
level of empowerment are some factors that are very crucial in determining the nature of
human development. These aspects have special significance in the case of India and many
other developing countries.
Country HDI value Rank
Norway 0.953 1
Germany 0.936 5
USA 0.924 13
UK 0.922 14
Russian 0.816 49
Malaysia 0.802 57
Sri Lanka 0.77 76
Brazil 0.759 79
China 0.752 86
Egypt 0.696 115
Indonesia 0.694 116
South Africa 0.699 113
Using the indicators selected by the UNDP, the Planning Commission of India also prepared the
Human Development Report for India. It used states and the Union Territories as the units of
analysis. Subsequently, each state government also started preparing the state level Human
Development Reports, using districts as the units of analysis. Although, the final HDI by the
Planning Commission of India has been calculated by taking the three indicators, yet, this report
also discussed other indicators like economic attainment, social empowerment, social
distributive justice, accessibility, hygiene and various welfare measures undertaken by the state.
Indicators of Economic Attainments
Rich resource base and access to these resources by all, particularly the poor, downtrodden and
the marginalized is the key to productivity, well-being and human development. Gross National
Product (GNP) and its per capita availability are taken as measures to assess the resource base/
endowment of any country. Economic attainment and the well-being of individuals depend on
economic growth, employment opportunities and access to assets. Over the years the per capita
income and consumption expenditure in India has increased. As a result, there has been a
consistent decline in the proportion of the population living below the poverty line. The percentage
of persons below the poverty line in 2011-12 has been estimated as 25.7% in rural areas, 13.7% in
urban areas and 21.9% for the country as a whole.
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer ANY TEN questions from
the eleven given below:
i. According to the passage, one of the reasons contributing to India’s low HDI could be:
a. Lack of sensitivity to historical factors
b. Unity of race, religion, gender and caste
c. Sensitivity to imperialism and neo-imperialism
d. Increase in democratic government
ii. Pick the options that list statements that are NOT TRUE according to the passage:
A. Low scores in HDI is a matter of great indifference
B. The percentage of people below the poverty line in 2011-12 for rural areas is 25.7%
C. Over the years the per capita income and consumption expenditure in India has
D. The Planning Commission of India does not base its Human Development Report on the
indicators selected by the UNDP
a. A and D
b. B and D
A and B
d. C and D
iii. The word imperialism in paragraph 2 means the same as:
a. freedom
b. unity
c. domi
d. democracy
iv. Based on the paragraph, choose the option that correct states:
A. C.epresentation, choose the option that lists the statements that are
TRUE with respect to the countries’ HDI value and rank:
A. India’s HDI report presents a serious concern.
B.
c. B and D
d. B and C
Explanation: