The correct answer is: c) Slightly lower.
Manipur’s HDI is 0.642, which is slightly lower than the national average of 0.647. This means that Manipur has a lower level of human development than the national average.
There are a number of factors that contribute to Manipur’s lower HDI. One factor is the state’s high poverty rate. According to the 2011 census, 27.8% of Manipur’s population lived below the poverty line. This is significantly higher than the national poverty rate of 21.9%.
Another factor that contributes to Manipur’s lower HDI is the state’s low level of education. According to the 2011 census, the literacy rate in Manipur was 76.9%. This is lower than the national literacy rate of 74.0%.
Finally, Manipur also has a high rate of unemployment. According to the 2011 census, the unemployment rate in Manipur was 8.1%. This is higher than the national unemployment rate of 5.6%.
These factors all contribute to Manipur’s lower HDI. However, it is important to note that Manipur has made significant progress in recent years. For example, the state’s poverty rate has declined from 34.9% in 2001 to 27.8% in 2011. The state’s literacy rate has also increased from 69.2% in 2001 to 76.9% in 2011. And the state’s unemployment rate has declined from 10.1% in 2001 to 8.1% in 2011.
These are all positive trends, and they suggest that Manipur is on the right track to improve its human development.