Quality of life, life expectancy, literacy, standard of living and migration in India

Quality Of Life, life expectancy, Literacy, standard of living and Migration in India

Human Development—a comprehensive approach

  • Human development is a process of enlarging people’s choices. But human development is also the objective, so it is both a process and an outcome. Human development implies that people must influence the processes that shape their lives. In all this, economic Growth is an important means to human development, but not the end.
  • Human development is the development of the people through building human capabilities, by the people through active participation in the processes that shape their lives and for the people by improving their lives.
  • It is broader than other approaches, such as the human resource approach, the basic needs approach and the human welfare approach

Measuring human development

  • The composite Human Development index (HDI) integrates three basic dimensions of human development.
  • Life expectancy at birth reflects the ability to lead a long and healthy life.
  • Mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling reflect the ability to acquire knowledge. And gross NATIONAL INCOME per capita reflects the ability to achieve a decent standard of living.
  • To measure human development more comprehensively, the Human Development Report also presents four other composite indices.
  • The Inequality-adjusted HDI Discounts the HDI according to the extent of inequality.
  • The Gender Development Index compares female and male HDI values.
  • The Gender Inequality Index highlights Women’s Empowerment. And the Multidimensional POVERTY Index measures nonincome dimensions of poverty.

India’s Human Development Index 2016

  • India was ranked 131 in the 2016 Human Development Index (HDI) among the 188 countries.
  • India scored 0.624 and was placed in medium human development category.
  • The index was unveiled recently as part of the Human Development Report (HDR) 2016 titled Human Development for Everyone published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • India related facts: India’s HDI value increased from 0.428 in 1990 to 0.624 in 2015. However, its Average annual growth in HDI (1990-2015) was higher than that of other medium HDI countries.
  • Life expectancy at birth: In India, it has increased from 68 years to an average of 68.3 years — 69.9 years for women and 66.9 years for men.
  • Access to knowledge: India’s expected years of schooling remains at 11.7 years, while mean years of schooling increased from 5.4 to 6.3 years.
  • India’s Gross National Income (GNI) based on per capita purchasing power parity (PPP): It has risen from $5,497 to $5,663.
  • Gender Inequality Index (GII): India ranked 125 among 159 countries. Only 12.2% of Parliament seats are held by women. 8% of women above the age of 15 years are part of India’s labour force — compared to 79.1% men. The ratio of maternal mortality is 174 against every 100000 live births.
  • Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI): It is difference between the HDI and IHDI, expressed as a Percentage of the HDI, indicating the loss in human development due to inequality.
  • India’s HDI was pegged at 0.624, but its value falls 27.2% after being adjusted for inequalities, resulting in a HDI value of 0.455.
  • Life expectancy adjusted with inequalities between 2010 and 2015 fell 24%, resulting in a value of 0.565.
  • The percentage of inequality in Education in 2015 was 39.4% or 0.324 and inequality in income 16.1% or 0.512.

Social Progress Index: India’s quality of life improves

  • The measurement of quality of life is critical to understand whether economic growth is fostering social development across the globe or not.
  • It is essential to ranks countries on the basis of government’s effectiveness at meeting basic human needs, at providing a foundation for well-being with basic education and environmental protection, and at creating opportunities for all citizens to make personal choices and reach their full potential.
  • This kind of framework is being used by the Social Progress Imperative to create the Social Progress Index. It is observed that the world incorporating 128 countries scores 64.85 on social progress.
  • It registers a 2.6 percent increase from 2014.
  • The performance is best in Basic Human Needs with a score of 89.62 followed by Foundations of Well-being and Opportunity.
  • The major factors that contribute to the improvements in social progress are increased access to information & Communication and enhanced advanced education landscape. On the other hand, Personal Rights which includes measures of political rights and freedom of expression is declining in most countries.
  • A rapid deterioration of rights, especially in terms of falling political participation and worsening freedom of expression and assembly, points out that the choices of citizens are being threatened.
  • Also, the advancements in Personal Safety have been intangible. This is mainly due to the reverse changes in the homicide rate and violent crimes which some countries are experiencing.

Quality of life: Which is the best Indian city to live in?

  • One of the most difficult financial decisions one has to make in life is to decide the place where they would choose to stay. The location one chooses is influenced by a host of pros and cons. The cost of living, the availability of economic opportunities, the quality of life, education facilities, among others are some of the many deciding factors.
  • Mercer, the global human Resources consulting firm, has released its 18th annual Quality of Living Survey, listing 2016 city rankings of best places to live in.
  • Mercer evaluated local living conditions in more than 440 cities surveyed worldwide according to 39 factors, grouped in 10 categories such as political and social Environment, economic environment, socio-cultural environment, medical and Health considerations, schools and education, public Services and transportation, recreation, consumer goods, housing, and natural environment.
  • As per the Mercer ranking, Hyderabad has been ranked as the best city in India to stay in with a ranking of 139 out of 230 cities in the world.
  • Pune has been selected as the second best Indian city with a rank of 144.
  • Other Indian cities that found a place in the list are: Bangalore (145), Chennai (150), Mumbai (152), Kolkata (160), and New Delhi (161).

Literacy in India

  • The 15th official census in India was calculated in the year 2011. In a country like India, literacy is the main foundation for social and economic growth. When the British rule ended in India in the year 1947 the literacy rate was just 12%.
  • Over the years, India has changed socially, economically, and globally.
  • After the 2011 census, literacy rate India 2011 was found to be 74.04%.
  • Compared to the adult literacy rate here the youth literacy rate is about 9% higher. Though this seems like a very great accomplishment, it is still a matter of concern that still so many people in India cannot even read and write.
  • The numbers of children who do not get education especially in the rural areas are still high. Though the government has made a law that every child under the age of 14 should get free education, the problem of illiteracy is still at large.
  • Now, if we consider female literacy rate in India, then it is lower than the male literacy rate as many parents do not allow their female children to go to schools. They get married off at a young age instead.
  • Though child marriage has been lowered to very low levels, it still happens. Many families, especially in rural areas believe that having a male child is better than having a baby girl. So the male child gets all the benefits.
  • Today, the female literacy levels according to the Literacy Rate 2011 census are 65.46% where the male literacy rate is over 80%.
  • The literacy rate in India has always been a matter of concern but many NGO initiatives and government ads, campaigns and programs are being held to spread awareness amongst people about the importance of literacy. Also the government has made strict rules for female Equality rights. India literacy rate has shown significant rise in the past 10 years.
  • Here are some facts about different states literacy rate, Kerala is the only state in India to have 100% literacy rate. It is followed by Goa, Tripura, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra, Sikkim.
  • The lowest literacy rate in India is seen in the state of Bihar.
  • We also need to think why is the literacy rate is low here in India compared to other developed countries. Basically the Population in India is very high. Being the 7th largest country its population stands 2nd in the world after China. There are over 1 billion people in India.
  • The number of schools and educational centers especially in rural areas is less. Even today many people are below the Poverty Line. Also people aren’t aware that children should get free education according to the law

Standard of living in India

  • Standard of living in India varies from state to state.
  • With one of the fastest growing economies in the world, clocked at a growth rate of 7.6% in 2015, India is on its way to becoming a large and globally important consumer economy.
  • According to Deutsche Bank Research, there are between 30 million and 300 million middle-class people in India. If current trends continue, India’s share of world GDP will significantly increase from 7.3 in 2016 to 8.5 percent of the world share by 2020.
  • In 2011, less than 22 percent of Indians lived under the global poverty line, nearly a 10 percent reduction from 29.8 percent just two years prior in 2009.
  • According to NCAER, India’s middle class population would be 267 million in 2016.
  • Further ahead, by 2025-26 the number of middle class households in India is likely to more than double from the 2015-16 levels to 113.8 million households or 547 million individuals.
  • Another estimate put the Indian middle class as numbering 475 million people by 2030.
  • It is estimated that average real wages will quadruple between 2013 and 2030.
  • The standard of living in India shows large disparity.
  • For example, there is widespread poverty in rural areas of India, where medical care tends to be very basic or unavailable, while cities boast of world class medical establishments. Similarly, the very latest machinery may be used in some construction projects, but many construction workers work without mechanisation in most projects.
  • However, a rural middle class is now emerging in India, with some rural areas seeing increasing prosperity. In general, the southern Indian state of Kerala ranks top for most of the indices.
  • In 2010, the per capita PPP-adjusted GDP for India was US$3,608.

Migration in India

  • One important facet of study on population is the study of migration arising out of various social, economic or political reasons.
  • For a large country like India, the study of movement of population in different parts of the country helps in understanding the dynamics of the Society better.
  • At this junction in the Economic Development, in the country, especially when many states are undergoing faster economic development, particularly in areas, such as, manufacturing, information technology or service sectors, data migration profile of population has become more important.
  • When a person is enumerated in census at a different place than his / her place of birth, she / he is considered a migrant. This may be due to marriage, which is the most common reason for migration among females-or for work, what is the case as generally among males, etc.
  • It also happens that many return to their place of birth after staying out. To capture such movements of population census collect information on migration by last helps to understand the current migration scenario better.
  • In India, as per census 2001, about 307 million person have been reported as migration by place of birth. Out of them about 259 million (84.2%), migrated from on e part of the state to another, i.e., from one village or town to another village or town. 42 million (2%) from out side the country.
  • The data on migration by last residence in India as per Census 2001 shows that the total number of migrants has been 314 million. Out of these migrants by last residence, 268 million (85%) has been intra-state migrants, those who migrated from one are of the state to another.
  • 41 million (13%) were interstate migrants and 5.1 million (1.6%) migrated from out side of the country.

Why do people migrate?

  • People migrate for many different reasons. These reasons can be classified as economic, social, political or environmental:
  1. economic migration – moving to find work or follow a particular career path
  2. social migration – moving somewhere for a better quality of life or to be closer to family or friends
  3. political migration – moving to escape political persecution or war
  4. environmental causes of migration include natural disasters such as flooding
  • Some people choose to migrate, eg someone who moves to another country to enhance their career opportunities. Some people are forced to migrate, eg someone who moves due to war or famine.
  • A refugee is someone who has left their home and does not have a new home to go to. Often refugees do not carry many possessions with them and do not have a clear idea of where they may finally settle.

Push and pull factors of Migration

Push factors are the reasons why people leave an area. They include:

  1. lack of services
  2. lack of safety
  3. high crime
  4. crop failure
  5. drought
  6. flooding
  7. poverty
  8. war

Pull factors are the reasons why people move to a particular area. They include:

  1. higher EMPLOYMENT
  2. more wealth
  3. better services
  4. good Climate
  5. safer, less crime
  6. political stability
  7. more fertile land
  8. lower risk from natural hazards

Migration usually happens as a result of a combination of these push and pull factors.,

India is a country with a population of over 1.3 billion people. It is the second most populous country in the world, after China. India is a diverse country with a rich history and culture. It is also a rapidly developing country with a growing economy.

The quality of life in India varies depending on the region and the socioeconomic status of the individual. However, in general, the quality of life in India is improving. The government has made significant investments in education, healthcare, and Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE. As a result, life expectancy has increased, literacy rates have improved, and poverty rates have declined.

Life expectancy in India is 68.8 years, which is higher than the global average of 67.2 years. The life expectancy for women is 70.2 years, while the life expectancy for men is 67.4 years. Life expectancy varies by state, with the highest life expectancies in Kerala and the lowest life expectancies in Madhya Pradesh.

Literacy rates in India are also improving. The adult literacy rate is 74.0%, which is higher than the global average of 86.3%. The female literacy rate is 65.5%, while the male literacy rate is 82.1%. Literacy rates vary by state, with the highest literacy rates in Kerala and the lowest literacy rates in Bihar.

The standard of living in India is also improving. The per capita income in India is $2,050, which is lower than the global average of $10,500. However, the per capita income has been growing at a rate of 7% per year, which is higher than the global average of 3% per year. The poverty rate in India has declined from 45% in 1991 to 21% in 2011.

India is a country with a long history of migration. Internal migration is the most common type of migration in India. People migrate from rural areas to urban areas in search of better job opportunities. International migration is also common, with Indians migrating to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Gulf countries in search of better economic opportunities.

Remittances from Indian migrants are a significant Source Of Income for India. In 2016, remittances from Indian migrants totaled $62.7 billion. Remittances are used to support families and businesses in India. They also help to reduce poverty and inequality in India.

The quality of life in India is improving, but there are still many challenges that need to be addressed. The government needs to continue to invest in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. It also needs to address the issue of poverty and inequality. With continued Investment and effort, India can achieve its goal of becoming a developed country by 2022.

Here are some additional details on the subtopics:

  • Health: India has made significant progress in improving healthcare in recent years. The government has invested in building new hospitals and clinics, and it has also expanded access to healthcare services. As a result, life expectancy has increased and infant mortality rates have declined. However, there are still many challenges that need to be addressed, such as the shortage of doctors and nurses, and the lack of access to healthcare in rural areas.
  • Education: India has a long history of education, and it has one of the largest education systems in the world. However, there are still many challenges that need to be addressed, such as the high dropout rate, the lack of quality teachers, and the lack of access to education in rural areas.
  • Environment: India is facing a number of environmental challenges, such as Air Pollution, Water Pollution, and deforestation. The government has taken some steps to address these challenges, but more needs to be done.
  • Safety: India is a relatively safe country, but there are some areas where crime is a problem. The government has taken some steps to improve safety, such as increasing the number of police officers and installing CCTV cameras. However, more needs to be done to address the issue of crime.
  • Economic well-being: India is a rapidly growing economy, and the standard of living has improved for many people. However, there are still many people who live in poverty. The government has taken some steps to address poverty, such as providing subsidies for food and fuel, and providing employment opportunities. However, more needs to be done to reduce poverty.
  • Social well-being: India is a diverse country with a rich culture. However, there are some social problems that need to be addressed, such as caste discrimination, gender inequality, and religious intolerance. The government has taken some steps to address these problems, but more needs to be done.

Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about India:

  • What is the population of India?
    India has a population of over 1.3 billion people, making it the second most populous country in the world.
  • What is the capital of India?
    The capital of India is New Delhi.
  • What is the Official Language of India?
    The official language of India is Hindi, but there are over 200 other languages spoken in the country.
  • What is the religion of India?
    The majority of Indians are Hindu, but there are also large Muslim, Christian, Sikh, and Buddhist populations.
  • What is the currency of India?
    The currency of India is the Indian rupee.
  • What is the GDP of India?
    The GDP of India is over $2 trillion, making it the sixth largest economy in the world.
  • What is the literacy rate in India?
    The literacy rate in India is over 70%, which is higher than the global average.
  • What is the life expectancy in India?
    The life expectancy in India is over 68 years, which is higher than the global average.
  • What is the quality of life in India?
    The quality of life in India varies depending on the region, but it is generally improving.
  • What are the major challenges facing India?
    Some of the major challenges facing India include poverty, illiteracy, Corruption, and Environmental Degradation.
  • What are the major achievements of India?
    Some of the major achievements of India include its economic growth, its democratic system, and its nuclear program.
  • What is the future of India?
    The future of India is bright. The country has a young population, a growing economy, and a strong Democracy. India is poised to become a major player on the world stage.

I hope this helps!

  1. Which of the following is not a factor that affects the quality of life in a country?
    (A) Income
    (B) Education
    (C) Health
    (D) Religion

  2. Which of the following countries has the highest life expectancy?
    (A) Japan
    (B) Switzerland
    (C) Sweden
    (D) Norway

  3. Which of the following countries has the highest literacy rate?
    (A) Canada
    (B) United States
    (C) Australia
    (D) New Zealand

  4. Which of the following countries has the highest standard of living?
    (A) United States
    (B) Canada
    (C) Australia
    (D) Switzerland

  5. Which of the following countries has the highest rate of migration?
    (A) India
    (B) China
    (C) Mexico
    (D) United States

  6. Which of the following is not a factor that affects the standard of living in a country?
    (A) Income
    (B) Education
    (C) Health
    (D) Climate

  7. Which of the following countries has the lowest life expectancy?
    (A) Sierra Leone
    (B) Central African Republic
    (C) Chad
    (D) Niger

  8. Which of the following countries has the lowest literacy rate?
    (A) Niger
    (B) Chad
    (C) Mali
    (D) Burkina Faso

  9. Which of the following countries has the lowest standard of living?
    (A) Niger
    (B) Chad
    (C) Mali
    (D) Burkina Faso

  10. Which of the following countries has the highest rate of migration?
    (A) India
    (B) China
    (C) Mexico
    (D) United States