Latest news with #WorldHappinessIndex2025
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
The Indian common man and the road the happiness
On April 28, Hariman Sharma, a farmer from the hills of Himachal Pradesh, walked up barefoot to Rashtrapati Bhavan's Durbar Hall to receive the Padma Shri from the President of India. He had developed a new variety of apple that could be cultivated in tropical or sub-tropical climate regions, potentially enabling it to be grown almost anywhere in our country. Sharma is not a government scientist or a researcher in a multinational biotech company. He is a common man. What does it mean to be a common man in India? A battle to make ends meet? Stealing moments of happiness before harsh reality creeps up? The World Happiness Index 2025, an initiative of Gallup, the University of Oxford and the UN's Sustainable Development Solutions Network, ranked India 118th among 147 countries. The ranking is based on people's self-evaluation of their lives. So, we have ranked ourselves lower than most of the world. A large portion of our economy thrives on our perceived unhappiness. From Bollywood to the health-supplement industry, everyone wants us to believe that they can bring joy into our lives. This pursuit of happiness is fuelled not by an inner striving for emancipation but by a confluence of images which seem to suggest a lack of meaning in our lives. With the information revolution, a new and powerful driver of unhappiness has emerged: FOMO. Our addiction to social media keeps us always wanting to not just keep up with our peers, but do better than them. In One-Dimensional Man (1964), Herbert Marcuse prophesied a world in which consumerism and mass media stifle originality. They create a 'blissful slave' , who is kept preoccupied due to the creation and pursuit of 'false needs'. He wasn't completely correct. We are far from being blissful. The pursuit of false needs hasn't been an entirely fulfilling affair. What we need in our lives determines our happiness, and unfortunately, we haven't really been good at identifying these needs, let alone planning a path towards achieving satisfaction. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal ruffled a few sentiments when he chided Indian start-ups for concentrating on food delivery apps when their Chinese counterparts were developing deep tech. What exactly is the need10-minute delivery apps are fulfilling? The need for instant gratification? In contrast, people like Sharma are quietly working towards fulfilling real needs. Hailing from Paniala village in Bilaspur (HP), Sharma observed apple seeds discarded in his backyard take root and grow into a fruit-bearing tree despite the warm, unfriendly climate. This set him off on a journey of experimentation that led to the development of the HRMN-99 apple. Similarly, Arunachalam Muruganantham designed and produced machines that produce low-cost sanitary napkins — these have benefitted 13 million women. He has created over 25,000 jobs with his invention. The movie, Pad Man (2018), winner of a National Award in 2019, was based on his story. Muruganantham was conferred the Padma Shri in 2016. Yanung Jamoh Lego from Arunachal Pradesh has popularised nature's herbal remedies. Her methods offer affordable and culturally rooted healthcare. She has helped revive traditional healing, empowered local women, and promoted sustainable health practices. Over 300,000 patients have been reported cured using her medicines. Yanung was conferred the Padma Shri last year. These stories have another thing in common. The National Innovation Foundation, an autonomous organisation under the Department of Science and Technology, nurtured their innovations. It has funded and supported 13 such common men and women who have later won the Padma Shri. Our society needs more such organisations. The theme of the World Happiness Report for 2025 is caring and sharing. We need to find more ways as a society to start caring for others around us. The writer is an Indian Revenue Service officer Views are personal
Khaleej Times
26-03-2025
- Khaleej Times
UAE ranked second safest country in the world in 2025
The UAE is the second safest country in the world in 2025, according to a survey. As per the data released by Numbeo, a crowd-sourced online database, the UAE, home to more than 200 nationalities, logged 84.5 Safety Index points. The UAE is known for its quality of living and a its safety and security. Andorra, a small country situated between France and Spain and known for its ski resorts, topped the list with 84.7 points, just two decimal points ahead of the UAE. Countries from the Gulf had the march ahead on USA and the United Kingdom with Qatar being the third safest and Oman rounding out the top five. Qatar had a Safety Index of 84.2, while Oman had 81.7 points. Saudi Arabia placed 14th on the list with 76.1 Safety Index points, while Bahrain was two spots behind the Kingdom in 16th with 75.5 points. Kuwait was placed 38th with 67.2 Safety Index points. Pakistan were 65th with 56.3 points followed by India in 66th with 55.7 Safety Index points. The Philippines was placed 63rd with 56.9 points. The Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal ranked 47th with 63.3 points. The UK ranked 87th with 51.7 Safety Index points, while the United States was 89th with 50.8 points. The UAE has improved its ranking — to 21st — in the World Happiness Index 2025, positioning itself above the UK, the US, Germany, France, Singapore and all Arab countries.
Hi Dubai
20-03-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
UAE Improves Ranking in Global Happiness Index 2025, Surpassing the UK, US, and France
The UAE has made significant strides in the World Happiness Index 2025, climbing to 21st place globally, surpassing the UK, the US, Germany, France, Singapore, and all other Arab nations. The rankings, released by Gallup, underscore the UAE's growing influence on global happiness metrics, thanks to its strong economy, social support systems, and robust infrastructure. The survey highlights the UAE's leading position in charitable contributions, ranking 16th globally in donating money and 19th in volunteering time. However, it also revealed a unique contrast, with the country placing 67th in helping a stranger. This disparity emphasizes the importance of fostering deeper personal connections within communities. Julie Ray, managing editor at Gallup, noted that the UAE's high ranking stems from its strong culture of giving, which correlates with overall happiness. The country also ranked 12th globally in believing a stranger would return a lost wallet, reflecting a sense of trust and social cohesion. Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, emphasized the importance of trust and social connections in fostering happiness. The UAE's "Year of Community" initiative in 2025 is a strategic step towards strengthening family and community ties, which are crucial to societal well-being. While Finland maintained its top spot as the happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, the UAE's continued progress highlights the role of positive social connections and benevolent actions in driving happiness and societal growth. News Source: Khaleej Times
Khaleej Times
20-03-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE rises in Global Happiness Index 2025, ranks above UK, US, France
The UAE has improved its ranking — to 21st — in the World Happiness Index 2025, positioning itself above the UK, the US, Germany, France, Singapore and all Arab countries. Interestingly, the UAE is 16th in the world on donating money and 19th on volunteering time, but ranked 67th in the world on helping a stranger. The survey placed UAE 12th in the world on believing that a stranger would return a lost wallet, according to findings published in the World Happiness Report 2025 released by Gallup. The UAE ranks generally high in the happiness index 'because it has a strong economy, high levels of social support, robust infrastructure,' said Julie Ray, managing editor, World News at Gallup. 'And in many respects, it has a strong culture of giving – which we know is related to happiness,' Ray told Khaleej Times. The survey found that perceptions of the job market, economic conditions and living standards are some of the most positive in years that contributed to the happiness of the people in the UAE. 'Happiness isn't just about wealth or growth — it's about trust, connection and knowing people have your back. This year's report proves we underestimate how kind the world really is. If we want stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters: each other,' said Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup. The UAE has declared 2025 as the 'Year of Community' to strengthen family and community bonds which also play a major role in the happiness of the society and communities. 'Human happiness is driven by our relationships with others. Investing in positive social connections and engaging in benevolent actions are both matched by greater happiness,' said Lara Aknin, professor of social psychology at Simon Fraser University and an editor of the World Happiness Report. Country rankings are based on a three-year average of each population's average assessment of their quality of life. Globally, Finland led the world in happiness for the eighth year in a row, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg and Mexico. While Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, DR Congo, Yemen, Comoros and Lesotho ranked at the bottom of the World Happiness Report 2025.
