RAS question
Human Development Index (HDI) is published by:
Correct answer: (D) UNDP.
The Human Development Index (HDI) is published by the United Nations Development Programme in the Human Development Report.
Explanation
The HDI is a UNDP-published index carried in the Human Development Report. Its point is not to rank countries by economic growth alone: the UNDP Human Development Reports page says HDI was created to place people and their capabilities at the centre of assessing development. That is why the index combines three dimensions: a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living. These are measured through life expectancy at birth, education using mean and expected years of schooling, and GNI per capita at PPP. India is placed around 134th globally in this framing. So the institution to remember is UNDP, not a health-only, finance-only, or general development-finance body.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) WHO is associated with health data, but HDI is wider than health because it also includes education and GNI per capita.
- (B) IMF focuses on economic data, whereas HDI is a human-development measure combining health, education, and standard of living.
- (C) The World Bank publishes other indices, but the HDI asked here is issued by UNDP through the Human Development Report.
Concept
This tests development indicators in Indian Economy: who publishes a major index and what the index actually measures. RAS frequently frames such questions around matching an index with its institution and core dimensions.