New Delhi: India ranks at 134 on the global Human Development Index (HDI), according to United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP’s) latest report on human development. The report also revealed that affluent countries are experiencing unprecedented levels of growth, while half of the world’s poorest nations have failed to regain their pre-pandemic progress.
According to the 2023/24 Human Development Report, titled ‘Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining cooperation in a polarized world,’ while HDI is projected to reach record highs in 2023 after declines in 2020 and 2021, there is a stark contrast in development levels between rich and poor nations.
The report points out that global inequalities have been compounded by substantial economic concentration – almost 40% of global trade in goods is concentrated in three or fewer countries. In 2021, the market capitalisation of each of the three largest tech companies in the world surpassed the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than 90% of countries that year, the report said.
“The widening human development gap revealed by the report shows that the two-decade trend of steadily reducing inequalities between wealthy and poor nations is now in reverse. Despite our deeply interconnected global societies, we are falling short. We must leverage our interdependence as well as our capacities to address our shared and existential challenges and ensure people’s aspirations are met,” said Achim Steiner, head of the UN Development Programme.
“This gridlock carries a significant human toll. The failure of collective action to advance action on climate change, digitalisation or poverty and inequality not only hinders human development but also worsens polarisation and further erodes trust in people and institutions worldwide,” he said.
India’s rank
Categorised as ‘Very High’, ‘High’, ‘Medium’ and ‘Low Human Development’, China and Sri Lanka, ranked at 75 and 78, respectively, in the High Human Development category compared to India, which stands at 134. India also ranks below Bhutan (125) and Bangladesh (129), despite all three being categorised under ‘Medium Human Development’.
‘Democracy paradox’
According to the report, while nine in 10 people worldwide endorse democracy, over half of the respondents expressed support for leaders that may undermine it by bypassing fundamental rules of the democratic process.
In addition to this paradox, half of the people surveyed reported having no or limited control over their lives, and over two-thirds believed that they have little influence on their government’s decisions.
Political polarisation in countries is also responsible for protectionist or inward-turning policy approaches which is “starkly at odds with the global cooperation needed to address urgent issues like the decarbonisation of our economies, misuse of digital technologies, and conflict,” the report says while emphasising on the need for united action to tackle global issues.
“In a world marked by increasing polarisation and division, neglecting to invest in each other poses a serious threat to our wellbeing and security. Protectionist approaches cannot address the complex, interconnected challenges we face, including pandemic prevention, climate change, and digital regulation,” Steiner added.
“Our problems are intertwined, requiring equally interconnected solutions. By adopting an opportunity-driven agenda that emphasises the benefits of the energy transition and of artificial intelligence for human development, we have a chance to break through the current deadlock and reignite a commitment to a shared future,” he said.
