Human Development and Sustainable Development: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Indian Economy)

Explanation

The life expectancy at birth in India is almost the same as that of Indonesia is false. Life Expectancy At Birth in India is 62.4 while in Indonesia, it is 64.

Option (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect:

India’s Adult Literacy Rate is 52 which is much lower than other countries which are above 80%. Korea has the highest Life Expectancy at Birth while Malaysia has the second highest. Life Expectancy at Birth is the average number of years a newborn is expected to live if current mortality patterns remain constant throughout their life. There is an inverse relationship between the Infant Mortality Rate and Adult Literacy Rate. The Infant Mortality Rate is the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year. It is a key indicator of the overall health and well-being of a population, reflecting factors such as healthcare access, nutrition, sanitation, and maternal health.

Explanation

The Indian Human Development Report (IHDR) does not give a separate Unemployment Related Index for each sample village. The IHDR uses a composite index approach to measure human development. It combines indicators across key dimensions such as Infrastructure and Amenities Index: This index reflects access to basic infrastructure like sanitation, drinking water, electricity, and other amenities that contribute to well-being. Education Related Index: This index combines indicators related to literacy rates, school enrollment, educational attainment, and other measures of educational progress. Health Related Index: This index includes indicators of health status, such as life expectancy, infant mortality rates, access to healthcare facilities, and other health-related measures. Unemployment is typically analyzed as a separate factor or included as a component within broader indices (like a poverty index or a standard of living index) rather than being a standalone index at the village level. Collecting reliable and granular unemployment data at the village level across a large sample can be challenging. Also, unemployment is more often seen as an outcome affecting poverty and standard of living, rather than a direct input into human development itself.

Explanation

Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) was launched on 2nd October, 1993, covering all the 1778 blocks under-Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS). These blocks were identified mainly in DPAP, DDP, Hill and Tribal areas. The main objective of the EAS was also on the lines of JRY, i.e. to provide gainful employment during lean agriculture season in the form of manual works to all able bodied adults who were in need and desirous of working, but unable to find anything to do. The assurance of 100 days of employment was extended to men and women above 18 years and below 60 years of age, residing in the villages of the blocks covered by EAS. A maximum of two adults per family were to be provided assured employment of 100 days under the scheme. The secondary objective was to develop economic infrastructure and community assets and resources for sustained employment and devel-opment.

Explanation

Madhya Pradesh was the first Indian state to prepare and release its Human Development Report (HDR) in 1995, under the guidance of Professor Amartya Sen.The Madhya Pradesh HDR was a pioneering effort in India, focusing on various dimensions of human development within the state, including health, education, and standard of living. The report aimed to assess and improve the well-being of its citizens by analyzing these critical areas. This initiative set a precedent for other Indian states to develop their own HDRs, contributing to a more localized understanding of human development challenges and facilitating targeted policy interventions. The Human Development Index (HDI) was introduced in 1990 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Human Development Report (HDR). It was conceptualized by economist Mahbub ul Haq and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. The HDI was created to shift the focus of development economics from purely economic growth (e.g., GDP) to a broader measure of human well-being, encompassing health, education, and living standards. It remains a key tool for assessing and comparing global development progress.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: In the 1990s, poverty rates among various social and religious groups in India exhibited significant disparities. Government statistics from that period indicate that the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in states such as Bihar, Odisha (formerly Orissa), Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra experienced some of the highest levels of poverty. Several factors contributed to the high poverty rates among Scheduled Tribes in these states during the 1990s:

Geographical Isolation: Many ST communities resided in remote areas, limiting their access to essential services and economic opportunities. Limited Access to Education and Healthcare: Educational and healthcare facilities were often inadequate or inaccessible, hindering human capital development. Economic Marginalization: Dependence on traditional livelihoods, coupled with limited integration into the broader economy, exacerbated economic vulnerabilities.

Explanation

In India Persons Below Poverty Line(BPL) is classified based on entitlement of a prescribed food basket measured in calorie and then converted into monetary terms for easy implementation into policies and programmes. The Planning Commission constituted a task force under the chairmanship of YK Alagh in 1979 to construct a poverty line for rural and urban areas on the basis of nutritional requirements and related consumption expenditure. The expert group under Suresh Tendulkar in 2009 also followed the calorie approach based on a consumption basket but added health and education along the calorie consumption basket. Another Expert group was constituted in 2014 under C Rangarajan also followed a calorie approach but suggested adding clothing, house rent, conveyance and education, and a behaviorally determined level of other non-food expenses.

Explanation

The Human Poverty Index (HPI) was introduced in the Human Development Report (HDR) 1997 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). HDI (Human Devel-opment Index) measures overall development based on three parameters: life expectancy, education (mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling), and per capita income. HPI (Human Poverty Index) focuses on deprivation in three areas:

Longevity (probability of not living beyond 40) Knowledge (adult illiteracy rate) Standard of living (access to clean water, healthcare, and underweight children)

Explanation

Most international agencies that fund development programs in India through intergovernmental bilateral agreements primarily provide:

Technical Assistance: Many agencies offer expertise, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building support to help implement development projects effectively. Soft Loans: A significant portion of funding comes in the form of soft loans, which are required to be paid back but with low interest rates and long repayment periods. These loans are often concessional and designed to support development without imposing a heavy financial burden. Grants: Some agencies provide grants, which do not need to be repaid. These are typically used for social sector projects like health, education, and poverty alleviation. Only few agencies provide food assistance in some cases (e.g., during emergencies or specific programs), it is not the primary form of support from most international agencies.