Sat May 10 10:26:59 UTC 2025: ## India’s Human Development Index Rises, Maternal and Child Health Improves Significantly

**New Delhi, May 10, 2025** – India has climbed in the global Human Development Index (HDI), according to the 2025 Human Development Report released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The country’s ranking rose from 133 in 2022 to 130 out of 193 countries in 2025, with its HDI value increasing from 0.676 to 0.685. This improvement places India in the medium human development category.

The report attributes this rise to several factors, including increased life expectancy, reaching a record high of 72 years in 2023 (up from 58.6 years in 1990). This significant increase is linked to India’s robust recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and continued investments in long-term human well-being, particularly focusing on women-led development and quality education and healthcare.

Government initiatives like the National Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Poshan Abhiyaan have contributed substantially to improved maternal and child health indicators. Data shows a significant decline in maternal mortality ratio (from 130 to 93 per lakh live births), infant mortality rate (from 39 to 27 per 1000 live births), neonatal mortality rate (from 26 to 19 per 1000 live births), and under-five mortality rate (from 45 to 31 per 1000 live births) between 2014 and 2021. Average years of schooling have also increased from 8.2 years in 1990 to 13 years in 2025, thanks to initiatives such as the Right to Education Act and the National Education Policy 2020.

Economic progress is also cited, with Gross National Income per capita more than quadrupling since 1990. Investments in programs like MGNREGA and Jan Dhan Yojana, alongside digital inclusion, have aided poverty reduction, with 135 million Indians escaping multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

Despite these advancements, the report highlights persistent inequalities that reduce India’s HDI by 30.7%. While health and education inequality have improved, income and gender disparities remain significant. The report also notes a global slowdown in human development, with the current pace being the slowest since 1990.

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