India dropped two spots to 131 out of 189 nations on the Human Development Index (HDI) this year, according to the Human Development Report (HDR) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The country ranked 129 (out of 189) countries on the 2019 HDI.
India's HDI value for 2019 stood at 0.645 which put it in the medium human development category.
Norway topped the index, followed by Ireland, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Iceland, the report showed.
The HDI is the measure of a country's health, education, and standard of living and ascertains a nations' average achievement in three basic scales of human development - education, life expectancy, and per capita income.
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Pakistan (154), Nepal (142), Bangladesh (133), Indian, and Bhutan (129) stand among countries with medium human development, the report stated.
Life expectancy of Indians at birth in 2019 was 69.7 years, while Bangladesh had a life expectancy of 72.6 years and Pakistan 67.3 years, the 2020 Human Development Report said.
Speaking to reporters, UNDP Resident Representative Shoko Noda said the drop in India's ranking doesn't mean "India didn't do well but other countries did better".
Noda said India can help other countries too and lauded its commitment to reduce carbon emissions.
According to the report published by UNDP on Tuesday, India's gross national income per capita fell to $6,681 in 2019 from $6,829 in 2018 on purchasing power parity (PPP) basis.
Purchasing power parity or PPP is a measurement of prices in different countries that uses the prices of specific goods to compare the absolute purchasing power of the countries' currencies.
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The report said evidence from Colombia to India indicates that financial security and ownership of land improve women's security and reduce the risk of gender-based violence, clearly indicating that owning land can empower women.
It further said indigenous children in Cambodia, India, and Thailand show more malnutrition-related issues such as stunting and wasting.
"In India, different responses in parental behaviour, as well as some disinvestment in girls' health and education, have led to higher malnutrition among girls than among boys as a consequence of shocks likely linked to climate change," the report said.
It further stated that under the Paris Agreement, India pledged to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP from the 2005 level by 33-35 per cent by 2030 and to obtain 40 per cent of electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
"As part of the plan, the National Solar Mission aims to promote solar energy for power generation and other uses to make solar energy competitive with fossil fuel-based options. Solar capacity in India increased from 2.6 gigawatts in March 2014 to 30 gigawatts in July 2019, achieving its target of 20 gigawatts four years ahead of schedule. In 2019, India ranked fifth for installed solar capacity," the report said.
Also Read: India ranks 129 out of 189 countries in Human Development Index 2019
(With inputs from PTI.)