United Nations Development Programme Releases Human Development Report, 2025 | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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United Nations Development Programme Releases Human Development Report, 2025

Posted 07 May 2025

2 min read

The Report titled,A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI’ highlights the critical role of AI in shaping the next chapter of human development.

Key Findings of the Report

  • India’s Human Development Index (HDI) Rank: India moved up 3 spots to rank 130 out of 193 countries in the 2025 Human Development Report.
    • India remains in the medium human development category (HDI value 0.685),
    • HDI: A composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development—a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living.
  • Life Expectancy: India’s life expectancy reached 72 years in 2023, marking the highest since the index began.
  • Schooling: The average mean years of schooling in India is 13 years (up from 8.2 years in 1990).
  • Challenges Despite Progress
    • National Income: India’s GNI per capita rank is seven positions below its HDI rank.
    • Inequality: Gender disparities remain significant. E.g., India ranks 102nd on the Gender Inequality Index (GII) reflecting challenges in reproductive health, political representation, and workforce participation.
  • Global Trends in Human Development
    • Globally, the human development progress had slowed to its weakest pace since 1990.
    • The inequality between low and very high HDI countries has increased for the fourth consecutive year.

2025 Human Development Report’s AI Related Observations

  • India's AI Landscape: Key Findings
    • AI Skills Penetration: India has the highest self-reported AI skills penetration globally.
    • Global AI Index: In the Global AI Index, India ranks 4th among 36 evaluated countries, making it the only lower-middle-income country in the top 10.
    • Talent Retention: 20% of AI researchers in India now stay domestically, a significant increase from nearly zero in 2019. 
  • Global Expectations for AI's Role: AI is expected to augment and automate jobs. 61% of respondents expect augmentation, while 51% expect automation.
  • Tags :
  • Gender Inequality Index
  • HDI
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