Q21. In which Human Development category does India currently fall according to standard international classifications?
Measurement of Development: HDI and Related Indices: RAS Prelims MCQs
100 RAS Prelims MCQs on the measurement of development cover the Human Development Index and related indices. The creator of HDI, its three dimensions, the goalposts used in the Education Index, the logarithm applied to income, min-max scaling, India’s category and the Gender Development Index are asked as facts and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 21–30 of 100 questions
Q22. Which of the following trends is NOT historically accurate regarding India’s HDI performance over the last three decades?
Explanation
Over the past thirty years, India has seen a steady rise in its overall development score. This progress is characterized by notable improvements in life expectancy at birth and significant growth in national income per capita. Contrary to stagnation, the average duration of education for the adult population has also increased consistently, contributing to the country’s upward movement in global rankings.
Q23. Among India’s immediate neighbors, which country has consistently placed in a higher HDI category than India in recent years?
Explanation
Within the South Asian region, comparative development assessments show varying levels of progress among neighbors. While several nearby nations share similar challenges and developmental tiers, Sri Lanka has historically maintained higher indicators in health and education. Consequently, it has consistently achieved a higher composite index value and a superior development category ranking compared to India and most other countries in the immediate vicinity.
Q24. Consider the following statements regarding India’s HDI ranking and trends:
I. India belongs to the High Human Development category.
II. Despite improvements, India’s HDI score temporarily declined during the COVID-19 pandemic years.
III. Life expectancy at birth in India is currently above 65 years.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. India belongs to the High Human Development category.
II. Despite improvements, India’s HDI score temporarily declined during the COVID-19 pandemic years.
III. Life expectancy at birth in India is currently above 65 years.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
India is currently classified within the medium development tier, not the high tier. Recent data shows that life expectancy in the country has surpassed the sixty-five-year mark. However, like many nations, India experienced a temporary setback in its overall development score and ranking during the global pandemic years, reflecting the significant health and economic challenges faced during that specific period.
Q25. Match the items in List I with those in List II:
| Country | General HDI Performance Tier |
|---|---|
| A. Norway | i. Low human development |
| B. India | ii. Very high human development |
| C. Sri Lanka | iii. Medium human development |
| D. Niger | iv. High human development Options: |
Explanation
Countries are categorized into different development tiers based on their composite index scores. Norway consistently ranks in the top tier, while nations like Sri Lanka are situated in the high development group. India currently falls into the medium category, reflecting its ongoing progress. Meanwhile, countries like Niger are classified in the low development tier due to significant challenges in health and education.
Q26. The Gender Development Index measures gender gaps in human development achievements by:
Explanation
This index evaluates the disparity between genders by comparing their respective human development achievements. It is determined by dividing the score calculated specifically for women by the score calculated for men. A value closer to one indicates less disparity, providing a clear measure of how close a country is to achieving equality in health, education, and standard of living dimensions.
Q27. In which year was the Gender Development Index first introduced by the United Nations Development Programme?
Explanation
The United Nations Development Programme introduced a specific measure to assess gender-based differences in human progress during the mid-1990s. This metric was launched alongside another gender-focused index to highlight that development is often not neutral between sexes. It aimed to bring global attention to the need for policies that specifically address the gaps in health, knowledge, and economic resources for women.
Q28. Read the following statements carefully:
Statement I: The Gender Development Index utilizes the exact same three basic dimensions as the standard Human Development Index.
Statement II: The Gender Development Index estimates the estimated earned income for women and men separately to measure the standard of living dimension.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: The Gender Development Index utilizes the exact same three basic dimensions as the standard Human Development Index.
Statement II: The Gender Development Index estimates the estimated earned income for women and men separately to measure the standard of living dimension.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
To measure gender-based development gaps, the index uses the same core dimensions of health, education, and standard of living as the standard measure. It calculates separate scores for men and women by using sex-disaggregated data. For the economic dimension, it estimates earned income for each group separately, allowing for a direct comparison of the resources available to women and men.
Q29. Consider the following statements regarding the Gender Development Index:
I. A Gender Development Index value of 1.000 indicates absolute gender parity.
II. It directly assesses female political representation in the national parliament.
III. It groups countries into five groups based on the absolute deviation from gender parity.
IV. It uses sex-disaggregated data for life expectancy, expected years of schooling, and mean years of schooling.
Which of the above statements are correct?
I. A Gender Development Index value of 1.000 indicates absolute gender parity.
II. It directly assesses female political representation in the national parliament.
III. It groups countries into five groups based on the absolute deviation from gender parity.
IV. It uses sex-disaggregated data for life expectancy, expected years of schooling, and mean years of schooling.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
This metric uses sex-disaggregated data for health and education to compare achievements between men and women. A score of one signifies absolute parity between the genders. Countries are categorized into five distinct groups based on how much they deviate from this parity. It focuses on these basic development dimensions rather than directly measuring political representation in national parliaments or governments.
Q30. Arrange the following indices in the correct chronological sequence of their first publication by the United Nations Development Programme:
I. Human Poverty Index
II. Multidimensional Poverty Index
III. Human Development Index
IV. Gender Development Index
Choose the correct order from the options below:
I. Human Poverty Index
II. Multidimensional Poverty Index
III. Human Development Index
IV. Gender Development Index
Choose the correct order from the options below:
Explanation
The evolution of development metrics began with the primary index in 1990. This was followed by the introduction of gender-specific measures in 1995. Later, a focus on human poverty was established in 1997. Finally, the more comprehensive multidimensional approach to poverty, which identifies overlapping deprivations at the household level, was launched in 2010, marking the most recent shift in international assessment.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 21 | (b) Medium human development |
| 22 | (b) India’s mean years of schooling have stagnated without any growth |
| 23 | (d) Sri Lanka |
| 24 | (b) II and III only |
| 25 | (a) A-ii, B-iii, C-iv, D-i |
| 26 | (a) Calculating the ratio of the female HDI to the male HDI |
| 27 | (b) 1995 |
| 28 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct |
| 29 | (c) I, III and IV only |
| 30 | (b) III, IV, I, II |
Key facts from Measurement of Development: HDI and Related Indices
- Mahbub ul Haq is credited with creating the Human Development Index.
- The three dimensions of HDI are health, education and standard of living.
- Income is transformed by a logarithm to account for diminishing marginal utility of income.
- The maximum goalposts in the Education Index are 18 years for expected years of schooling and 15 years for mean years of schooling.
- HDI values are normalised by min-max scaling; India falls in the Medium Human Development category.
- The Gender Development Index is the ratio of the female HDI to the male HDI; Sri Lanka has consistently been placed higher than India among its neighbours.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Measurement of Development: HDI and Related Indices?
This page has 100 practice MCQs on Measurement of Development: HDI and Related Indices (Indian Economy). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Who created the Human Development Index?
The economist Mahbub ul Haq, who developed it with Amartya Sen’s ideas for the UNDP’s first Human Development Report in 1990. It measures achievement in health, education and standard of living, not income alone.
Why is income transformed using a logarithm in HDI?
To account for diminishing marginal utility of income. Each additional rupee adds less to human well-being at higher incomes, so the index counts a rise in income at low levels as more important than the same rise at high levels.
What does the Gender Development Index measure?
It measures gender gaps in human development achievements by taking the ratio of the female HDI to the male HDI. A value of 1 means that women and men have equal achievement.