Human development in India is a story of both progress and inequality. Since independence, India has made remarkable advances in health, education and income, raising the standard of living of millions of people. The life expectancy of Indians has more than doubled, the literacy rate has risen from about 18 per cent at independence to about 74 per cent, and the incidence of poverty has fallen substantially. Yet, these achievements are spread unevenly, and India continues to face the challenge of translating economic growth into the well-being of all its people.
The concept of human development, which enlarges people's choices and capabilities, was introduced by Mahbub-ul-Haq and Amartya Sen and popularised through the Human Development Reports of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In India, human development is assessed not only at the national level but also at the level of states and districts, because the regional variations in health, education and income within the country are enormous.
India's position on the Human Development Index (HDI) has improved steadily over the years. India belongs to the medium human development category and its HDI value has risen as a result of rising per capita income, improving life expectancy and expanding educational attainment. However, India's rank remains modest when compared with many developing and developed countries, and it lags behind many of its neighbours in certain components of the HDI.
The components of India's HDI reveal the pattern of development. Life expectancy at birth in India has crossed 70 years, reflecting the great improvement in health. The mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling have increased as school enrolment has expanded. The gross national income per capita has risen rapidly with economic growth. Yet India's HDI is pulled down by wide inequalities between rich and poor, between men and women, and between rural and urban areas.
Human development is highly uneven across the states of India. Kerala is the state with the highest level of human development, with the highest literacy rate, the highest sex ratio and the highest life expectancy among the major states. States such as Goa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra also rank high on human development indicators. At the other end, states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh have lower literacy, lower life expectancy and higher infant mortality.
These regional variations arise from differences in economic development, education, the status of women, health infrastructure and historical circumstances. The southern states generally perform better on human development indicators, while the states of the Hindi heartland and some eastern states lag behind. Within every state there are also large differences between districts, between rural and urban areas, and between social groups, which show that human development in India is a challenge of equity as much as of averages.
The status of women is central to human development in India. Gender inequality in India is reflected in the low sex ratio, lower female literacy, lower female participation in the workforce and discrimination in health and nutrition. The improvement of women's condition is therefore one of the most important goals of human development policy. Educating girls, providing healthcare to women, ensuring their participation in decision-making and protecting their rights are essential for raising the level of human development.
The government of India has launched many programmes for women's empowerment, such as the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, which aims to improve the child sex ratio and educate girls, the Mahila Shakti Kendra, and the promotion of Self Help Groups (SHGs) that provide credit and employment to rural women. Female literacy in India has improved faster than male literacy, narrowing the gender gap. When women are educated and healthy, they have smaller families, better-educated children and higher family incomes, which raises human development for everyone.
India has adopted a wide range of policies and programmes to promote human development. The Constitution of India guarantees the right to equality and provides for free and compulsory education through the Right to Education Act. Programmes such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Samagra Shiksha have expanded school enrolment, while the Mid-Day Meal Scheme has improved nutrition and school attendance. The National Health Mission provides healthcare services, especially for mothers and children.
Poverty alleviation programmes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) guarantee 100 days of wage employment to rural households. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, the Swachh Bharat Mission and the Jal Jeevan Mission address financial inclusion, health insurance, sanitation and drinking water respectively. These programmes, together with economic growth, have contributed to the improvement of India's human development indicators and to the reduction of poverty and inequality.
Despite the progress, India faces major challenges in human development. Inequality between regions, social groups and genders remains high, and the benefits of economic growth have not reached all sections of society. Malnutrition among children, high infant and maternal mortality in many states, the dropout of girls from schools, and the low participation of women in the workforce are persistent problems. The rapid growth of cities has also created slums and pressure on health, housing and water services.
The way forward lies in making human development the central goal of planning. Investment in education, especially of girls, improvement of health services, especially in the poorer states, the creation of productive employment and the reduction of regional imbalances are the key priorities. The Sustainable Development Goals adopted by India provide a comprehensive framework for achieving human development by 2030. If India can combine its economic growth with equity and empowerment, it can fully realise the potential of its young population.
| Category | States |
|---|---|
| High Human Development | Kerala, Goa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra |
| Low Human Development | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh |
| Highest Literacy | Kerala |
| Lowest Literacy | Bihar |
| Programme | Focus |
|---|---|
| Right to Education Act | Free and compulsory education |
| National Health Mission | Maternal and child health |
| MGNREGA | 100 days of guaranteed wage employment |
| Beti Bachao Beti Padhao | Child sex ratio and girls' education |
| Ayushman Bharat | Health insurance for the poor |
| Swachh Bharat Mission | Sanitation |
Human development in India has improved substantially since independence, with rising life expectancy, expanding education and growing incomes. India belongs to the medium human development category, and states such as Kerala and Goa have reached levels comparable to much more developed regions, while states like Bihar still lag behind. The improvement of women's condition, through programmes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and the promotion of Self Help Groups, is central to further progress. The major challenge is to reduce the wide inequalities between regions, social groups and genders. By combining economic growth with equity, education and empowerment, India can fully realise the potential of its young population and achieve comprehensive human development by 2030.
Keywords: Human development, India, HDI, medium human development, Kerala, Bihar, women's empowerment, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, MGNREGA.