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.