Latest news with #2025HumanDevelopmentReport
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Private sector must pull its weight on R&D
Artificial intelligence is redrawing the global map of power, opportunity and inequality. This is the central concern of the 2025 Human Development Report, which argues that the real question is no longer whether AI will shape the future, but who it will serve and who it will leave behind. It treats AI not as a futuristic abstraction but as a political, economic and moral fault line running through the heart of global development. For India, the policy choices we make today will define our role in the decades to come, whether we rise as a sovereign innovator or remain a subservient user in the evolving architecture of digital power. The report discusses how despite technological breakthroughs,the rate of human progress is the slowest it's been since the report began 35 years ago. Gains in life expectancy, education and income have plateaued and in some regions, reversed. Pre 2020 trends suggested that the global HDI would surpass 0.8, achieving 'very high' status by 2030. However, current projections based on the 2021-2024 trajectory push back this milestone by several decades. In the wake of overlapping crises of the pandemic, the climate crisis, and conflict, the gap between very high and low HDI countries has widened. The ongoing progression of AI risks entrenching this global inequality further. The core building blocks of AI,compute, talent, data, and capital,are concentrated in the hands of a few firms and nations in the Global North,driving a new regime of digital dependency. The report finds that 60-95% of recent AI performance gains now come from scaling compute, not better algorithms. This shift has turned compute infrastructure into the new currency of AI power, fuelling a global race for hardware dominance. NVIDIA makes 90 percent of the chips powering today's AI systems. The US hosts nearly half of all global data centres, and big tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft now design their own chips, controlling the entire AI stack. Investment reflects this control. In 2024, the US dominated global private AI investment with $70.2 billion, ten times more than China, while the rest of the world was left with just $0.7 billion. India is not lacking in talent, ambition, or technological potential. We rank in the global top ten for AI readiness and lead in self reported AI skill penetration. The brain drain is also beginning to reverse: 20% of Indian AI researchers now remain in the country, up from near zero in 2019. However, we are building upward on scaffolding we neither own nor anchor. We sit at the table as a data rich, decision poor consumer. India has yet to produce a single foundation model, even as the US, China, and Europe surge ahead. In the global AI patent landscape, we remain almost invisible. Meanwhile, our economy is still tethered to a tech export model that AI is rapidly upending. The IT-BPM sector, which contributes 7.5% to GDP, employs 5.4 million people, and generated $194 billion in export revenue last year, faces an uncomfortable truth: GDP growth is not a shield. Beneath the headline numbers lies a quiet crisis of stagnation and complacency. Industry leaders like TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and HCL spend just 0.4-1.3% of their revenue on R&D, far behind global tech giants that invest anywhere between 11% and 28%. These firms rely heavily on basic coding, analytics, and call centre support, precisely the kinds of routine, repeatable tasks that generative AI is poised to automate first. As The Wall Street Journal warns, these jobs aren't at risk years from now, they're replaceable in weeks. The government has responded with large scale public investment; ₹10,372 crore for the India AI Mission, and 18,000 GPUs, but public funds alone won't close the gap. The private sector contributes less than 40% of India's already meagre R&D spend, which stands at just 0.64% of GDP. At a moment that demands bold bets, the private sector is still playing defence. Globally, matching public funds with private R&D has proven effective. OECD studies show $1 of public investment can generate up to $1.70 in private R&D. In Mexico, matching grants led to a 40-50% jump in productivity and jobs. India must act now. We need to foster indigenous computer infrastructure, and support foundational model development,not just in research labs, but across universities, startups, and public institutions. Rupee for rupee matching grants, along with stronger R&D tax credits can push private firms to invest, not just outsource. As the UN Secretary General warned, 'We must never let AI stand for advancing inequality.' The global innovation gap is an epistemic one. Nations that don't control AI development today risk becoming permanent rule-takers tomorrow. Anugraha John writes on public policy. The views expressed are personal.
Deccan Herald
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Rethinking AI: The lessons for India
The 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) offers more than statistics and rankings. While the HDR is often reported in the media for India's position on the Human Development Index (HDI), this year's report demands a much deeper engagement. Titled 'A Matter of Choices: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI', the report invites India, and the world, to reflect on how we are going to deal with transformative technologies like AI which will probably shape the future of the forces nations to rethink and confront urgent ethical, social, and political questions of our times, especially around AI. It places AI at the centre of the development discourse and raises a pressing question: will AI empower humanity or deepen inequality? In India, where rapid digital growth coexists with vast socio-economic gaps, the answer will be decided by the choices we make now..A key aspect of the report highlights a troubling paradox. Despite unprecedented technological advances, global human development is stagnating. The rebound from the 2020-21 decline in HDI is weak, and gaps between high and low HDI countries are widening. AI is hailed as a transformative force – 'the new electricity' – and yet, the lived reality for millions remains unchanged or in fact, paradox is highly relevant for India. Though it is the fastest-growing major economy and home to an expanding digital infrastructure, it faces persistent inequalities in education, healthcare, gender equity, and digital access. Without intentional and inclusive policy design, AI may deepen these than treating AI as inherently good or bad, the HDR calls for a people-centric approach that gives primacy to human agency. The future of AI, it argues, must be guided by democratic values, ethical governance, and shared responsibility. If not, we risk replacing human agency with algorithmic India, this means building AI tools and institutions that serve the many, not just the few. India's growing digital platforms along with its startup ecosystem give it a strong foundation. But realising the full potential of AI will require conscious efforts to embed human rights, privacy, fairness, and inclusion into AI design, deployment, and report makes a strong case for 'AI-augmented human development' rather than AI-led automation. It urges nations to create 'complementary economies' where AI enhances human creativity and productivity rather than replacing it. This is critical for a labour-rich country like India, where the real challenge lies in generating decent-quality HDR also warns of rising geopolitical tensions and the growing weaponisation of AI. With China and the US competing to dominate AI development and markets, developing countries risk becoming dependent 'data colonies.' But AI is not merely an industrial or strategic arms race; it is a political and ethical choice. For India, the goal should not be dominance but dignity: building an AI model that respects its constitutional values, protects diversity, and serves all sections of has no choice but to tread carefully. As a founding member of the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) and a leader of the Global South, it is well positioned to champion multilateral governance of AI that is inclusive and accountable. But it must avoid falling into techno-nationalism or strategic alignments that compromise its sovereignty or developmental user to critical insight in the HDR is the emergence of an AI divide – a new form of inequality layered over existing development gaps. Countries at the AI frontier are moving at jet speed, while others are falling behind. India, though ambitious, lags in investments, infrastructure, and global influence in the report cites LinkedIn data showing that India has the world's highest self-reported AI skill penetration. But this alone is not enough. Are we producing AI creators or merely users? Are we building indigenous technologies or relying on foreign platforms? To move from aspiration to leadership, India must invest in research, computing capacity, open data frameworks, and talent HDR rightly identifies the vacuum in AI governance. It calls for new models of regulation that are transparent, flexible, and responsive to societal needs. As our earlier experience suggests, in the absence of strong public institutions, private tech companies set the rules. This is a global problem but also a local opportunity. India must lead by example. As the world's largest democracy, it can propose frameworks that are rooted in constitutional rights, participatory governance, and public accountability. India can advocate for global AI standards that reflect the priorities of the Global perhaps the most important contribution of the HDR is its emphasis on narrative. The way AI is discussed – as destiny, disruption or deliverance – shapes public policy. The report warns against surrendering to narratives that glorify automation and ignore the social consequences of unchecked innovation. In India, the media, civil society, and academia must foster informed debates on AI. They must question hype, expose harm, and amplify marginal voices. India's rich democratic tradition offers the perfect ground for promoting such discourse. But this requires vigilance and active engagement, not passive a way, the UNDP's 2025 HDR offers a sobering but powerful message: human development is not determined by machines but by choices. The age of AI is not just a test of our intelligence but of our wisdom. India with its unique demographic, technological, and democratic mix, has the opportunity to craft an alternative AI path – one that is inclusive, ethical, and globally relevant. In the end, the question is not whether AI will define our future. The question is: will we define AI to serve a future we believe in?.(The writer is a professor of journalism and Regional Director at Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal)
Muscat Daily
24-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman ranked 50th in Human Development Index
Muscat – Oman has improved its ranking by nine places to 50th in the latest Human Development Index (HDI) released last week by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The 2025 Human Development Report, titled A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence , reveals an unprecedented slowdown in human development progress. It analyses progress across a range of indicators, including health, education and income, which form the basis of the index. Projections for 2024 indicate stalled progress in all regions globally. Oman is classified among countries with 'Very high human development'. The sultanate's HDI now stands at 0.858, up from 0.819 last year. Life expectancy at birth has risen to 80 years from 73.9 years in 2024 and expected years of schooling have increased to 13.4 years from 13 years, while mean years of schooling remain 11.9 years. Gross national income per capita is now US$36,096, up from US$32,967 last year – all key components of HDI. Among Gulf Cooperation Council states, the UAE leads at 15th place, followed by Saudi Arabia (37th), Bahrain (38th), Qatar (43rd), Oman (50th) and Kuwait (52nd). Globally, the highest-ranked countries are Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The lowest-ranked are Niger, Chad, the Central African Republic, Somalia and South Sudan. The report highlights how artificial intelligence could potentially reignite development, but warns of weak progress despite the world moving past the crises of 2020-2021. Excluding these crisis years, the projected increase in global human development for 2025 is the smallest since 1990. 'For decades, we have been on track to reach a very high human development world by 2030, but this deceleration signals a very real threat to global progress,' said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. 'If 2024's sluggish progress becomes 'the new normal', the 2030 milestone could slip by decades making our world less secure, more divided, and more vulnerable to economic and ecological shocks.' The report also highlights growing inequality between countries with 'Low HDI' and 'Very High HDI' for the fourth consecutive year, reversing a long-term trend of narrowing gaps between wealthy and poor nations.
Al Etihad
12-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
UAE ranks 1st regionally, 15th globally in UN Human Development Index
12 May 2025 12:50 ABU DHABI (WAM) The UAE has maintained its leading position among countries with 'very high human development', climbing 11 spots globally compared to its 2021–2022 ranking, in the 2025 Human Development Index (HDI) report issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UAE ranked 15th globally out of 193 countries covered by the report, outperforming nations including Canada, the US, Japan, Australia, and Korea. It remains the only Arab country in the top 20 — a distinction reflecting its commitment to a comprehensive development vision that prioritises human wellbeing. The country's approach integrates healthcare, education, and quality of life, positioning it as a global model for sustainability and human capital 2025 Human Development Report, 'A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)', gave the UAE an HDI score of UAE scored high on all four main indicators. Life expectancy at birth in the UAE reached 82.9 years, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on Good Health and Well-being. Expected years of schooling stood at 15.6, and Average years of schooling at 13, supporting SGD 4 on quality education. Gross national income per capita reached $71.142, contributing to SDG 8 on decent work and economic bin Mohamed Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health and Prevention, said the UAE's leading position reflects its sustained investment in a world-class healthcare system that promotes innovation and ensures high-quality services, aligned with the country's long-term vision for a healthy and sustainable bint Yousef Al Amiri, UAE Minister of Education, stressed that education has always been central to the UAE's development strategy. She highlighted the adoption of adaptive, forward-looking education policies designed to prepare future generations for competitiveness and innovation, particularly in fields such as artificial Mansour Ahli, Managing Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, noted that the UAE's human-centric development model leverages healthcare, education, and innovation as pillars for a prosperous and inclusive future. She said the country's rise in the HDI rankings demonstrates proactive and future-ready policymaking that prioritises human wellbeing alongside economic report underscored the growing impact of AI on human development, warning of widening gaps between high- and low-development countries, and calling for flexible, human-focused strategies in healthcare, education, and living standards. It emphasised that human capital remains key in the digital UAE also ranked third globally in net migration of AI-skilled professionals in 2023, based on LinkedIn data — underscoring its appeal as a global hub for AI talent. The report noted that high-income countries like the UAE are net beneficiaries of specialised talent, while lower-income nations face losses. It called for a cooperative digital economy where humans and AI work in tandem, with a focus on empowering people through knowledge and technology for inclusive and sustainable growth.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
How did India's national health programmes contribute to increased longevity?
The story so far India has registered a rise on the Human Development Index (HDI), ranking 130 out of 193 countries as per the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) released earlier this week by the United Nations Development Programme. The country ranked 133 in 2022. India's HDI value increases from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, placing the country in the medium human development category. The recent report added that India's life expectancy is the highest since the inception of the index, signalling a strong recovery from the pandemic and its impact on life expectancy. Life expectancy rose from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, the highest recorded since the index began. Why has life expectancy improved? According to the report this can be attributed to a number of factors including the country's overall push for investment and inclusive development. Angela Lusigi, resident representative, UNDP India said that rising life expectancy could be attributed to India's robust recovery from the pandemic and its investments and commitment to long-term human well-being. Credit is also being given to renewed focus on women-led development and quality education and healthcare for all. The report notes that national health programmes by successive governments such as the National Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Poshan Abhiyaan have also contributed significantly to this achievement. Besides this, children today are expected to stay in school for 13 years on average, up from 8.2 years in 1990. Initiatives like the Right to Education Act, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and the National Education Policy 2020 have enhanced outcomes. Giving insight on the economic front, the report notes that India's Gross National Income per capita rose over four times, from $2167.22 in 1990 to $9046.76 in 2023 and this can be attributed to investments in programmes like MGNREGA, Jan Dhan Yojana, and digital inclusion that have contributed to poverty reduction. Importantly, 135 million Indians escaped multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21. How has India's maternal/infant mortality rate improved? As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021 released by the Registrar General of India (RGI), on May 7, 2025, India has continued to witness a significant improvement in key maternal and child health indicators. The latest data indicates that India has witnessed a steady downward trend in maternal and child mortality towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 targets with its progress outpacing global average. Data notes that maternal mortality ratio dropped significantly from 130 to 93 per lakh live births, infant mortality rate declined from 39 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 27 per 1000 live births in 2021; neonatal mortality rate has fallen from 26 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 19 per 1000 live births in 2021 and under-five mortality rate has dropped from 45 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 31 per 1000 live births in 2021. 'These sustained improvements are a result of strategic interventions and sustained efforts where the government's flagship health schemes are seamlessly integrated to guarantee quality healthcare services—completely free of cost, with zero tolerance for denial of care. Ayushman Bharat, the world's largest health assurance initiative, provides an annual health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family, ensuring financial protection and access to essential services. Also, focused interventions ensure that every pregnant woman is entitled to free institutional delivery, including Caesarean sections, along with complimentary transport, medication, diagnostics, and nutrition support in public health facilities are contributing factors,'' said a senior Health Ministry official. Also Read: A step up: On India and the 2025 Human Development Report What are the challenges ahead? The report notes that despite the progress made toward ensuring a longer life span for Indians, challenges persist. Inequality reduces India's HDI by 30.7%, one of the highest losses in the region. While health and education inequality have improved, income and gender disparities remain significant. The report also underscores a broader global slowdown in human development. The 2025 HDR reveals that the current pace of progress is the slowest since 1990 – and India is no exception. 'Had pre-2020 trends continued, the world would be on track to reach very high human development by 2030, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal timelines. Now, that milestone risks being delayed by decades,'' notes the report.
