India's Steady Ascent: A Closer Look at the 2025 Human Development Index

India's HDI Ranking Improves

New Delhi: India has made notable progress in the Human Development Index (HDI), achieving a rank of 130 out of 193 nations in the latest Human Development Report (HDR) released by the UN Development Programme on Tuesday.

From 2022 to 2023, India advanced from the 133rd position to 130th, with its HDI value rising from 0.676 to 0.685. The country remains classified under medium human development, edging closer to the high human development threshold of 0.700, according to the report.

Nevertheless, the report highlighted that inequality diminishes India's HDI by 30.7%, marking one of the highest regional losses.

While there have been improvements in health and education disparities, significant gaps in income and gender equality persist. Female participation in the workforce and political representation are still lacking, although recent initiatives, such as a constitutional amendment reserving one-third of legislative seats for women, show promise for future change.

The report noted a slight increase in life expectancy in India, from 71.7 years to 72.0 years, the highest recorded to date. Expected years of schooling remained stable at around 12.95 years, while mean years of schooling saw a significant rise from 6.57 to 6.88 years.

India's advancements in education since 1990 were acknowledged, with credit given to initiatives like the Right to Education Act, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, and the National Education Policy 2020. However, the report emphasized the need for ongoing focus on quality and learning outcomes.

Additionally, India's Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, adjusted for 2021 purchasing power parity (PPP), increased from USD 8,475.68 to USD 9,046.76, indicating continued economic growth.

The 2025 HDR, titled "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI," underscored the pivotal role of artificial intelligence in shaping future human development, especially in rapidly growing economies like India.

"We commend India for its significant progress in the Human Development Index, moving from rank 133 in 2022 to 130 in 2023. This improvement reflects ongoing advancements in key areas of human development, particularly in mean years of schooling and national income per capita," stated Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India.

Lusigi further noted that India's life expectancy reaching its highest level since the index's inception is a testament to the country's strong recovery from the pandemic and its commitment to long-term human welfare.

Since 1990, India's HDI value has surged by over 53%, outpacing both global and South Asian averages.

This progress has been driven by economic growth and targeted social protection initiatives.

Life expectancy has increased from 58.6 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023, the highest since the index began. National health programs implemented by successive governments, such as the National Rural Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Poshan Abhiyaan, have played a crucial role in this achievement.

Economically, India's GNI per capita has more than quadrupled, rising from USD 2,167.22 in 1990 to USD 9,046.76 in 2023.

"Over the years, India's economic growth and investments in programs like MGNREGA, Jan Dhan Yojana, and digital inclusion have significantly contributed to poverty alleviation. Notably, 135 million Indians transitioned out of multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21," the report stated.

The report also indicated that India is positioning itself as a leader in the global AI arena. The country boasts the highest self-reported AI skills penetration and is retaining more of its homegrown AI talent, with 20% of Indian AI researchers remaining in the country, a significant increase from nearly zero in 2019.

AI is being utilized across various sectors, from agriculture to healthcare, with new initiatives aimed at democratizing access to AI.

A recent global UNDP survey revealed a growing optimism regarding AI, with 70% of respondents anticipating productivity boosts and 64% believing it will generate new job opportunities, particularly for the youth.

On a global scale, the report cautioned about a slowdown in human development progress, marking the slowest growth since 1990.