RAS question
Rajasthan's HDI (Human Development Index) compared to the national average is:
Correct answer: (A) Lower.
Rajasthan's Human Development Index is lower than the national average.
Explanation
Rajasthan's HDI is below the national average: Rajasthan State Action Plan on Climate Change 2022 records the state's 2019 HDI score as 0.628, against the national average of 0.645. HDI is not just an income measure; it considers health, education and per capita income. So the answer is lower, reflecting the combined effect of challenges across education, health and income indicators despite economic growth. For RAS, the key point is the comparative position, not only the absolute score: Rajasthan trails the all-India HDI benchmark.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) HDI is measured for states, and Rajasthan's HDI score is given alongside the national average, so 'not measured' cannot be right.
- (C) The values are not equal: Rajasthan is recorded at 0.628 while the national average is 0.645.
- (D) Rajasthan cannot be higher because its HDI is below the national average.
Concept
This tests state-level human development indicators in Rajasthan's economy syllabus. It recurs in RAS because HDI links economic growth with outcomes in health, education and income, which are central to development-policy questions.