National Development, Income and Other Criteria to Compare Different States or Nation

Development is the sum total of income plus the quality of life, including equal treatment, freedom, security, and respect for others. It is also known as progress and has always been a fundamental aspiration of societies.

People seek regular work, better wages, and fair prices for their products, which translates to a desire for higher income. However, development goals vary among individuals and communities. For example, an urban unemployed youth may aspire for a salaried job and promotions, while a rural unemployed youth may seek better job opportunities in the village and dignity of labour.

Income is a crucial component of development, and comparisons among countries often use national income and per capita income as base indicators. The World Bank considers per capita income as a key development indicator, while the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) includes health and educational levels alongside income.

Countries are classified based on per capita income: high-income countries have US$49,300 or more per annum, low-income countries have US$2,500 or less, and India is categorized as a low-middle-income country with US$6,700 per annum (2019 data).

Other criteria for comparing development include Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Literacy Rate, Net Attendance Ratio, Human Development Index (HDI), and availability of public facilities. Income alone does not capture the quality of life; for example, it cannot buy a pollution-free environment.

Kerala exemplifies a state with low IMR and high literacy due to adequate healthcare and educational facilities.

Exam Questions

Q1: What are the main components considered in measuring national development?

Answer: National development is measured by income levels, quality of life factors such as equal treatment, freedom, security, health, education, and availability of public facilities.

Q2: Why is income alone not an adequate indicator of development?

Answer: Income does not reflect the quality of life aspects such as health, education, environmental quality, and social equality, which are essential for true development.

Public Facilities and Sustainable Development

Public facilities are services provided by the government that significantly impact the quality of life. These include healthcare, sanitation, electricity, public transport, and educational institutions.

Such facilities support the creation of viable, sustainable, healthy, and cohesive communities by overcoming social barriers and improving achievements.

Money alone cannot buy all necessary goods and services; hence, government provision of essential facilities is crucial for development.

States with better public facilities, like Kerala, show better health and educational outcomes, reflected in low Infant Mortality Rate and high literacy rates.

The Public Distribution System (PDS) also plays a role in improving health and nutrition. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is used internationally to assess nutritional status, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.

Example: A person weighing 60 kg and 1.7 meters tall has a BMI of 20.76, which is within the normal range.

The Human Development Report by UNDP compares countries based on education, health, and income through the Human Development Index (HDI), which includes life expectancy at birth, gross enrolment ratio, and per capita income.

India ranked 134 in the HDI in 2023-2024.

Sustainable economic development means development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It involves controlling over-exploitation, increasing use of renewable resources, reducing fossil fuel use, organic farming, and measures to reduce global warming.

Groundwater overuse is a concern; sustainable development requires judicious use of resources.

Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘The Earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one person’.

Environmental degradation affects all regions and requires cooperation across boundaries.

Exam Questions

Q1: What is sustainable development and why is it important?

Answer: Sustainable development is development that meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs. It is important to conserve resources, protect the environment, and ensure long-term economic growth and well-being.

Q2: How do public facilities contribute to development?

Answer: Public facilities provide essential services like healthcare, education, sanitation, and transport, which improve quality of life, support economic activities, and promote social cohesion.

Human Development Index (HDI)

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index measuring a country's average achievements in three basic dimensions of human development:

• Life Expectancy at Birth: Average expected lifespan of a person at birth.
• Gross Enrolment Ratio: Total enrolment in primary, secondary, and higher education.
• Per Capita Income: Average income per person, calculated in US dollars for comparison.

The HDI is calculated by combining these three indicators to provide a summary measure of human development.

It helps rank countries into tiers of development and assess progress beyond income alone.

Exam Questions

Q1: What are the three main indicators used in the Human Development Index?

Answer: Life expectancy at birth, gross enrolment ratio, and per capita income.

Q2: Why is the HDI considered a better measure of development than income alone?

Answer: Because it includes health and education indicators along with income, providing a more comprehensive view of human well-being.

Quick Reference

• Development: Improvement in income and quality of life.
• Income: Monetary earnings important for development.
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
• Literacy Rate: Percentage of literate population aged 7 and above.
• Public Facilities: Government-provided services like healthcare and education.
• Human Development Index (HDI): Composite index of life expectancy, education, and income.
• Sustainable Development: Development that meets present needs without harming future generations.
• Body Mass Index (BMI): Indicator of nutritional status calculated as weight divided by height squared.

Glossary

• Development: Process of improving economic and social well-being.
• Income: Money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or investments.
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Number of deaths of infants under one year per 1,000 live births.
• Literacy Rate: Percentage of people who can read and write.
• Human Development Index (HDI): A measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development.
• Sustainability: Using resources in a way that preserves them for future generations.
• Gross Enrolment Ratio: Total enrolment in education at all levels.
• Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure of body fat based on height and weight.

Solved Examples

Example 1: Calculate the BMI of a person weighing 70 kg and 1.75 meters tall.

Solution: BMI = 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 70 ÷ 3.0625 = 22.86 (Normal range)

Example 2: If a country has a life expectancy of 70 years, gross enrolment ratio of 80%, and per capita income of US$10,000, how is its development assessed?

Solution: The country shows moderate to high human development based on these indicators, reflecting good health, education, and income levels.

Practice Set

Easy

• Define development in your own words.
• What is Infant Mortality Rate?

Moderate

• Explain why income alone is not sufficient to measure development.
• List three public facilities that contribute to development.

Challenging

• Discuss the importance of sustainable development for economic growth.
• Describe the components of the Human Development Index and their significance.

Answer Key

• Define development: Development is the process of improving the economic and social well-being of people.
• Infant Mortality Rate: The number of children who die before age one per 1,000 live births.
• Income alone is not sufficient: Because it does not account for health, education, and environmental quality.
• Public facilities: Healthcare, education, sanitation, electricity, public transport.
• Importance of sustainable development: It ensures resources and environment are preserved for future generations while promoting economic growth.
• Components of HDI: Life expectancy, education enrolment, and per capita income; they measure overall human well-being.

Chronology of Development Concepts

Time Period / Year	Event / Change	Importance
2019	Classification of countries by per capita income	Helps identify high, middle, and low-income countries for development comparison
2023-2024	India's HDI ranking at 134	Indicates India's position in human development globally
Ongoing	Focus on sustainable development	Ensures long-term economic growth without environmental degradation