Human Development Indices and Concepts MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Human Development Indices and Concepts - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Hong Kong.

Key Points

• Hong Kong consistently ranks among the countries and regions with the highest life expectancy globally, with an average life expectancy of approximately 85 years as of 2023 (World Bank, WHO).
• Factors contributing to Hong Kong's high life expectancy include excellent healthcare infrastructure, low infant mortality rates, and high standards of living.
• Hong Kong's diet predominantly includes fresh vegetables, seafood, and rice, which contribute to better health outcomes.
• Robust public health policies and universal healthcare access further bolster longevity in Hong Kong.
• In addition to physical health, Hong Kong emphasizes mental health and fitness through community programs and awareness campaigns.

Additional Information

• Life Expectancy
  • Life expectancy refers to the average number of years a person is expected to live based on current mortality rates.
  • It is influenced by factors such as healthcare, lifestyle, genetics, environment, and socioeconomic conditions.
• Global Rankings
  • Other regions with high life expectancy include Japan, Switzerland, and Singapore, often exceeding 82 years on average.
  • These nations share common factors like advanced healthcare systems, nutritious diets, and active lifestyles.
• Healthcare System in Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong has a dual-track healthcare system comprising public and private sectors, with affordable and accessible services for residents.
  • Its public hospitals are known for providing high-quality care at minimal costs.
• Impact of Lifestyle
  • Regular physical activity, low smoking rates, and healthy diets are significant contributors to Hong Kong's high life expectancy.
  • Community programs encourage active aging and social engagement among the elderly population.

The correct answer is 1901-1921.

Key Points

• The period between 1901-1921 in India is referred to as the stagnant phase in population history due to minimal growth in population.
• This phase witnessed high mortality rates caused by epidemics, famines, and poor healthcare facilities.
• The population growth rate was negligible, with the population increasing by only about 1.2% during these two decades.
• The 1918 influenza pandemic (Spanish flu) was a significant contributor to the high death rate during this period.
• This phase marked unstable demographic conditions with a high death rate and a low birth rate, resulting in stagnant population growth.

Additional Information

• Demographic Transition Model
  • This model explains the transition of a country’s population from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates.
  • India during 1901-1921 was in the first stage of demographic transition, characterized by high mortality rates and stagnant population growth.
• Mortality Rates
  • Mortality rates during 1901-1921 were extremely high due to diseases like plague, cholera, and influenza.
  • The lack of medical advancements contributed to the inability to control these epidemics.
• 1918 Influenza Pandemic
  • The Spanish flu caused millions of deaths in India, significantly impacting population growth during this period.
  • It is considered one of the deadliest pandemics in history.
• Population Dynamics in Later Phases
  • Post-1921, India entered the steady growth phase with improvements in healthcare and sanitation.
  • Population growth began accelerating due to declining death rates and sustained high birth rates.

The correct answer is 1951-1981.

Key Points

• The period from 1951 to 1981 in India is referred to as the period of population explosion due to a sharp rise in population growth rates.
• This was largely attributed to the decline in death rates due to advancements in healthcare and improved sanitation, while birth rates remained high.
• The rapid population growth put immense pressure on resources, leading to challenges such as urban overcrowding, unemployment, and insufficient infrastructure.
• During this period, the government initiated family planning programs to curb the high birth rates and manage population growth effectively.
• India witnessed its first National Family Planning Program in 1952, making it the first country in the world to launch such an initiative.

Additional Information

• Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
  • The demographic transition model explains population growth in four stages: high birth and death rates (Stage 1), declining death rates (Stage 2), declining birth rates (Stage 3), and low birth and death rates (Stage 4).
  • India's period of population explosion falls under Stage 2 and early Stage 3 of the DTM.
• Population Policies in India
  • The first National Population Policy (1976) aimed at reducing the birth rate through education, healthcare, and family welfare programs.
  • The 1981 census revealed the critical need for enhanced population control measures.
• Factors Contributing to Population Explosion
  • Decline in mortality rates due to advancements in medical science and public health.
  • Lack of widespread awareness about family planning and contraceptive use.
  • Socio-economic factors such as preference for larger families, especially in rural areas.
• Impact of Population Explosion
  • Increased pressure on natural resources such as water, land, and energy.
  • Challenges in providing adequate healthcare, education, housing, and employment.
  • Environmental degradation due to overpopulation and urban expansion.

The correct answer is United Nations Development Programme.

Key Points

• The Human Development Index (HDI) is released annually by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• HDI measures a country's development based on three key dimensions: health (life expectancy), education (mean and expected years of schooling), and standard of living (GNI per capita).
• The index was first introduced in 1990 by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq and Indian economist Amartya Sen.
• It ranks countries on a scale from 0 to 1, where higher values indicate better human development.
• The latest HDI report includes data and analysis to address global challenges, such as inequality, climate change, and crises affecting human progress.

Additional Information

• Human Development Report (HDR):
  • The HDI is part of the annual Human Development Report published by the UNDP.
  • The HDR focuses on broader aspects of human development beyond economic growth.
  • It aims to provide actionable solutions for policymakers worldwide to address inequalities and improve human well-being.
• Key Dimensions of HDI:
  • Measured by life expectancy at birth.
  • Education: Includes mean years of schooling for adults and expected years of schooling for children.
  • Standard of Living: Measured using Gross National Income (GNI) per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP).
• Types of Indices in Human Development Reports:
  • Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI): Accounts for inequality in distribution of HDI dimensions.
  • Gender Development Index (GDI): Compares HDI values for men and women.
  • Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): Measures poverty based on deprivations in health, education, and living standards.
• UNDP's Role:
  • The UNDP works globally to reduce poverty, inequality, and exclusion.
  • It collaborates with governments, civil society, and private organizations to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs).
  • As part of its mandate, UNDP releases research and policy recommendations through flagship reports like the HDR.

The correct answer is 1) 1 and 2 only.

Key Points

• Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index used to measure a country's average achievements in key dimensions of human development.
• The three key dimensions of HDI are health (measured by life expectancy), education (measured by mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling), and standard of living (measured by Gross National Income per capita).
• Health and knowledge are primary components of HDI, while daily income is not explicitly included as a separate dimension.
• The HDI was introduced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its annual Human Development Report, first published in 1990.
• Countries are ranked based on their HDI scores to assess and compare their levels of development.

Additional Information

• Life Expectancy: A measure of the average number of years a person is expected to live, reflecting the health dimension of HDI.
• Mean Years of Schooling: The average number of completed years of education for individuals aged 25 years and older, used to assess the education dimension.
• Expected Years of Schooling: The total number of years a child entering school is expected to spend in education, assuming current enrollment patterns remain constant.
• Gross National Income (GNI) Per Capita: The aggregate income of a country divided by its population, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP), used to measure the standard of living.
• UNDP's Human Development Reports: Annual publications that analyze global issues and include the HDI rankings of countries, aiming to promote sustainable human development.

The correct answer is Social Inequality.

• Social Inequality is not used to calculate the Human Development Index (HDI).

Key Points

•  Human Development Index:
  • The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistical tool that is used to measure a country's overall achievement in social and economic dimensions.
  • The social and economic dimensions of a country depending on the health of people, their level of educational attainment, and their standard of living.
  • A country scores a higher HDI if the lifespan is higher, the education level is higher, and the GDP per capital is higher.

Additional Information

• Mahbub ul Haq a Pakistani economist created HDI in 1990 which was further used to measure the country's development by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). 
• United Nations releases the Human Development Report.
• The UNDP also releases:
  • Multidimensional Poverty Index
  • Gender Inequality Index

The correct answer is NITI Aayog.

Key Points

• Poverty estimation is India is carried out by NITI Aayog's task force through the calculation of the poverty line based on data captured by the National Sample Survey Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation(MOSPI).
• The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) is the premier policy think tank of the Indian government, providing both directional and policy inputs to the government at all levels. 
• NITI Aayog focuses on sectors like digital governance, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
• Besides, it has embarked on various initiatives including the Atal Innovation Mission, the Aspirational Districts Program, and many others.

Additional Information

• Reserve Bank of India
  • The RBI is India's central bank, responsible for monetary policy, currency issuance, and financial oversight but typically does not directly publish poverty data.
  •  As the apex financial institution, the RBI controls the issuance and supply of the Indian Rupee and manages the country's main payment systems.
  • Key responsibilities include regulation and supervision of banks and non-banking finance companies, formulating and implementing a monetary policy aimed at maintaining price stability and economic growth and handling critical functions concerning the Indian Government's finances.
• Economic Advisory Council
  • ​The Economic Advisory Council (EAC) is a non-permanent, independent institution.
  • This body advises the Prime Minister on macroeconomic issues and relevant economic policies.
  • The council evaluates economic trends and issues that could impact policymaking.
  • It helps the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) develop a macroeconomic policy framework and optimize the government’s efforts to foster strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth.
  • While it may use poverty data in its recommendations, it does not typically release these statistics.
• Economic Survey
  • The Economic Survey of India is an annual document that is publicly displayed by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
  • The document is prepared under the guidance of the Chief Economic Adviser, it is presented in Parliament ahead of the Union Budget.
  • The survey contains in-depth analysis, forecasts, and data related to India's GDP growth, fiscal development, infrastructure, agricultural and industrial production, employment, prices, exports, imports, public services, and more.
  • This aids policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in understanding economic trends and formulating appropriate policies.
  • The Economic Survey reflects the government's assessment of annual economic development while suggesting future policy directions.

The correct answer is neonatal mortality rate.

Key Points

• The number of deaths during the first 28 completed days of life per 1000 live births in a given year or period is defined as the neonatal mortality rate.
• There are some concerns about the quality of neonatal mortality reporting both internationally and within states, particularly in terms of defining a live birth and/or reporting both birth and death certificates for newborns with very low birth weights.
• When neonatal death certificates are matched to corresponding birth certificates, much more additional and valuable data (birth weight, mother's smoking status, when prenatal care began, etc.) is obtained for neonatal mortality risk analysis.

Important Points

• The number of newborn deaths per 1,000 live births is known as the infant mortality rate.
• The infant mortality rate is an essential indicator of a society's general health, in addition to providing crucial information regarding maternal and baby health.
• The crude mortality rate is derived by dividing the number of fatalities in a particular time by the number of people who were at risk of dying during that period.
• A death rate that is limited to a certain age group is known as an age-specific mortality rate.

The correct answer is the Human development index.

Key Points

• Human development index
  • The first UNDP Human Development Report was published in 1990.
  • The Human Development Index is a report published by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
  • ​The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistical tool used to measure a country's overall achievement in social and economic dimensions.
  • The purpose of the HDI is to rank countries on the Human Development Scale in terms of the abilities of humans within countries to perform tasks.
  • The Human Development Index (HDI) is an index that measures key dimensions of human development.
• The three key dimensions are:
  • ​A long and healthy life- is measured by life expectancy.
  • Access to education-  measured by expected years of schooling of children at school-entry age and mean years of schooling of the adult population.
  • And a decent standard of living- measured by Gross National Income per capita adjusted for the price level of the country.

The correct answer is the World Economic Forum.

Key Points

The Global Gender Gap Report 2022.

• In the report published in July 2022, out of 146 countries, India is placed at 135. In comparison to the year before, when we ranked 140 out of 156, India has slightly improved its position.
• The Global Gender Gap Index was first introduced by the World Economic Forum in 2006 as a framework for capturing the magnitude of gender-based disparities and tracking their progress over time.

Important Points

• The Global Gender Gap Index considers 4 dimensions :
  1. Economic Participation and Opportunity
  2. Educational Attainment
  3. Health and Survival
  4. Political Empowerment
•  The Global Gender Gap Index 2022 rankings :

Additional Information

• Human Development Index :
  • The HDI was created to emphasize that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone.
  • India ranks 127 in HDI 2023.
  • HDI dimensions :
    • Long and healthy life
      • Life expectancy at birth
    • Knowledge
      • Expected years of schooling
      • Mean years of schooling
    • A decent standard of living
      • Gross national income per capita (PPP $)

The correc answer is from 1951 to 1981.

Key Points

• The decades 1951-1981 (Phase III) are referred to as the period of population explosion in India.
• It was caused by a rapid fall in the mortality rate but a high fertility rate of the population in the country.
• The average annual growth rate was as high as 2.2 percent.
• It is in this period, after the Independence, that developmental activities were introduced through a centralized planning process and the economy started showing up ensuring the improvement of the living conditions of people at large.
• Consequently, there was a high natural increase and a higher growth rate.

Additional Information 

• India is the second-most populous country after China in the world.
• Phase I :
  • The period from 1901-1921 is referred to as a period of the stagnant or stationary phase of growth of India’s population.
  • In this period growth rate was very low, even recording a negative growth rate during 1911-1921.
• Phase II :
  • The decades 1921-1951 are referred to as the period of steady population growth.
  • An overall improvement in health and sanitation throughout the country brought down the mortality rate.
• Phase IV :
  • Post-1981 till present, the growth rate of the country’s population though remained high, has started slowing down gradually.

Note - At present, India has overtaken China as the world's most populous country, 

The correct answer is UNDP.

• UNDP developed the 'Human Development Index' (H. D. I.).

Key Points

• Human Development Index (HDI):​
  • It is a statistical tool used to measure a country's overall achievement in its social and economic dimensions.
  • The dimensions of a country are based on the health of people, their level of educational attainment, and their standard of living.
• History of HDI:
  • It was first developed by the Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq in 1990 which was further used to measure the country's development by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
  • Calculation of the index combines four major indicators:
    • life expectancy for health
    • expected years of schooling
    • mean of years of schooling for education.
    • Gross National Income per capita for the standard of living.
• United Nations Development Program:
  • It was formed on 22 November 1965.
  • Its headquarters is in New York City.
  • Achim Steiner is the current head.

Additional Information

• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • It was established in the year 1964.
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) headquarters is in New York City, USA.
  • It was established in the year 1946.
• International Monetary Fund headquarters is in Washington, D.C.
  • ​It was established in the year 1945.

The correct answer is Migration.

Key Points

• Push and Pull factors work together when people are migrating.
• People migrate for several reasons.
• These reasons may fall under these four areas: Environmental, Economic, Cultural, and Socio-political. 
• The reasons responsible for migration are termed Push or Pull factors.
• Push factors are those that force the individual to move voluntarily, and in many cases, they are forced because, the individual risk something if they stay.
• Push factors may include conflict, drought, famine, or extreme religious activity.
• Low economic activity and lack of job opportunities are also big push factors for migration.
• Other push factors include race and discriminating cultures, political intolerance, and persecution of people who question the status quo.
• Pull factors are those factors in the destination country that attract the individual or group to leave their home. 
• Better economic opportunities, more jobs, and the promise of a better life often pull people into new locations.

The Correct Answer is Option 4 i.e The level of mutual trust and harmony in the society.

• The stock of its buildings, other infrastructure, and machines implies a physical capital.
• Social capital is the values, beliefs, and attitudes that govern the nature of social interactions.
• social capital refers to connections among individuals – social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them i.e the level of mutual trust and harmony in the society.

The correct answer is 1990.

Key Points

• The Human Development Report (HDR) is an annual Human Development Index report published by the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• The first HDR was launched in 1990 by the Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq and Indian Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.
• Human Development Report published by UNDP compares countries based on the educational levels of the people, their health status, and per capita income
  • Health i.e. Life expectancy- It denotes the number of years a person is to be alive. It is an estimate of the average age of members of a group.
  • Education i.e. Gross enrollment ratio - It is the ratio for three levels means enrolment ratio for primary school, secondary school, and higher education beyond secondary school.
  • National Income- All goods and services produced in a year by a country are valued. The higher the national income, the better the growth of any economy or country. From the national income figures, it can be known how fast the growth of a country is increasing.