Latest news with #UNDPIndia
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.
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Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
India ranks 130th on Human Development Index, says UNDP 2025 report
India ranked 130th on the Human Development Index, out of 193 countries and territories, according to the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) released on Tuesday by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The latest UNDP report noted that 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 per cent since 1990, growing faster than both the global and South Asian averages. 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. 'This advancement reflects sustained improvements in key dimensions of human development, particularly in mean years of schooling and national income per capita. India's life expectancy reaching its highest level since the inception of the index is a testament to the country's robust recovery from the pandemic and its investments and commitment to long-term human well-being,' said Angela Lusigi, resident representative, UNDP India. However, the report also noted challenges among which inequality is primary as it reduces India's HDI by 30.7 per cent, one of the highest losses in the region. 'While health and education inequality have improved, income and gender disparities remain significant. Female labour force participation and political representation lag, though recent steps—such as the constitutional amendment reserving one-third of legislative seats for women—offer promise for transformative change,' said UNDP in a statement. 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), Pakistan (168th) are ranked below India.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Life expectancy in India rose from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023: UNDP's HDI report
India continues its steady rise on the Human Development Index (HDI), ranking 130 out of 193 countries in the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) released on Tuesday (May 6, 2025) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). With its HDI value increasing from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, India remains in the medium human development category, moving closer to the threshold for high human development (HDI ≥ 0.700). Also, India's life expectancy is the highest since the inception of the index, indicating a strong recovery from the pandemic and its impact on life expectancy. The 2025 HDR, titled 'A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI', highlights the critical role of artificial intelligence in shaping the next chapter of human development, particularly in fast-growing economies, including India. 'India has progressed from 133 in 2022 to 130 in 2023. This advancement reflects sustained improvements in key dimensions of human development, particularly in mean years of schooling and national income per capita. India's life expectancy reaching its highest level since the inception of the index is a testament to the country's robust recovery from the pandemic and its investments and commitment to long-term human well-being,' said Angela Lusigi, resident representative, UNDP India. The report notes that in India, life expectancy rose from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, the highest recorded since the index began. It attributes this to the national health programmes followed by successive governments, including the National Rural Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and the Poshan Abhiyaan. Also, 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, the National Education Policy 2020 have enhanced outcomes. However, quality and learning outcomes remain areas for continued focus,' the report said. The HDR adds that India's Gross National Income per capita rose over four times, from $2167.22 (1990) to $9046.76 (2023), and 135 million Indians escaped multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21. However, challenges persist, with inequality reducing India's HDI by 30.7%, one of the highest losses in the region, the report said. 'While health and education inequality have improved, income and gender disparities remain significant. Female labour force participation and political representation lag, though recent steps — such as the constitutional amendment reserving one-third of legislative seats for women — offer promise for transformative change,' the HDR said. The report placed India in a unique position globally as a rising AI powerhouse with the highest self-reported AI skills penetration and growing domestic retention of talent — 20% of Indian AI researchers now remain in the country, up from nearly zero in 2019. The report underscored 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,' the report said. The inequality between low and very high HDI countries had increased for the fourth consecutive year, reversing long-standing progress, the report said.
India.com
06-05-2025
- Health
- India.com
Indias Rank In 2025 Human Development Index Improves, Climbs To...; Life Expectancy Rises To...
New Delhi: India continues its steady rise on the Human Development Index (HDI), ranking 130th out of 193 countries in the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) released today by the United Nations Development Programme. With an HDI value increasing from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, India remains in the medium human development category, moving closer to the threshold for high human development (HDI ≥ 0.700). The 2025 HDR, titled "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI," highlights the critical role of artificial intelligence in shaping the next chapter of human development—particularly in fast-growing economies like India. "We congratulate India on its notable progress in the Human Development Index, rising from rank 133 in 2022 to 130 in 2023. This advancement reflects sustained improvements in key dimensions of human development, particularly in mean years of schooling and national income per capita. India's life expectancy reaching its highest level since the inception of the index is a testament to the country's robust recovery from the pandemic and its investments and commitment to long-term human well-being. With a renewed focus on women-led development, quality education, and healthcare for all, India is well-positioned to achieve inclusive growth and continued progress on human development," said Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India. India's HDI Value Increased India's HDI value has increased by over 53 percent since 1990, growing faster than both the global and South Asian averages. This progress has been fueled by economic growth and targeted social protection and welfare programs. Life Expectancy Rose To 72 Years Life expectancy rose from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, the highest recorded since the index began. National health programs by successive governments, such as the National Rural Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Poshan Abhiyaan, have contributed significantly to this achievement. 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. However, quality and learning outcomes remain areas for continued focus. On the economic front, India's Gross National Income per capita rose more than four times, from USD 2,167.22 (1990) to USD 9,046.76 (2023). Over the years, India's progress on economic growth and investments in programs like MGNREGA, Jan Dhan Yojana, and digital inclusion have contributed to poverty reduction. Importantly, 135 million Indians escaped multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.
NDTV
06-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
India's Human Development Index Makes Progress, Ranks 130 Out Of 193 Countries
New Delhi: India continues its steady rise on the Human Development Index (HDI), ranking 130 out of 193 countries in the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) released on Tuesday by the UN Development Programme. Between 2022 and 2023, India improved its HDI ranking from 133 to 130, and its HDI value increased from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023. India remained in the medium human development category, moving closer to the threshold for high human development (HDI > 0.700), the report said. However, the report also pointed out that inequality reduces India's HDI by 30.7 per cent, one of the highest losses in the region. While health and education inequality have improved, income and gender disparities remain significant. Female labour force participation and political representation lag, though recent steps such as the constitutional amendment reserving one-third of legislative seats for women offer promise for transformative change, the report said. In India, the report said life expectancy increased slightly from 71.7 years to 72.0 years, marking the highest level recorded for the country. While expected years of schooling remained nearly unchanged, moving from 12.96 to 12.95 years, mean years of schooling saw a notable increase from 6.57 to 6.88 years. The report lauded India's progress in school education, especially from 1990, and credited initiatives like the Right to Education Act, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, and the National Education Policy 2020. However, quality and learning outcomes remain areas for continued focus, it said. Additionally, India's Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, measured in 2021 purchasing power parity (PPP), rose from USD 8,475.68 to USD 9,046.76, reflecting ongoing economic growth. The 2025 HDR, "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI," highlighted the critical role of artificial intelligence in shaping the next chapter of human development - particularly in fast-growing economies like India. "We congratulate India on its notable progress in the Human Development Index, rising from rank 133 in 2022 to 130 in 2023. This advancement reflects sustained improvements in key dimensions of human development, particularly in mean years of schooling and national income per capita," said Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India. Lusigi further said that India's life expectancy reaching its highest level since the inception of the index is a testament to the country's robust recovery from the pandemic and its investments and commitment to long-term human well-being. India's HDI value has increased by over 53 per cent since 1990, growing faster than the global and South Asian averages. This progress has been fueled by economic growth and targeted social protection and welfare programmes. Life expectancy rose from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, the highest recorded since the index began. National health programmes by successive governments, such as the National Rural Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Poshan Abhiyaan, have contributed significantly to this achievement. On the economic front, India's Gross National Income per capita rose over four times, from USD 2167.22 (1990) to USD 9046.76 (2023). "Over the years, India's progress on economic growth and investments in programmes like MGNREGA, Jan Dhan Yojana, and digital inclusion have contributed to poverty reduction. Importantly, 135 million Indians escaped multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21," the report said. The report said India is also positioning itself as a leader in the global AI landscape. The country has the highest self-reported AI skills penetration and is now retaining more of its homegrown AI talent - 20% of Indian AI researchers remain in the country, up from nearly zero in 2019. AI is being deployed across sectors, from agriculture to healthcare, and new initiatives are underway to democratise AI access. A new global UNDP survey also reveals growing optimism about AI, with 70% of people expecting it to boost productivity and 64% believing it will create new job opportunities, particularly among youth. Globally, the report warned of a slowdown in human development progress - the slowest since 1990.
