India ranks 116 in World Bank Human Capital Index

This index evaluates the major components of Human Capital in countries

• India has been ranked 116 in the list of 174 countries in the latest ranking of
  the World Bank’s annual Human Capital Index
• This index evaluates the major components of Human Capital in countries. Last
  year, India was ranked 115 in the list of 157 countries
• Health and education data for 174 countries were included in the Human
  Capital Index 2020

Key highlights of the Index – 2020

• The human capital index includes education and health data from 174
  countries
• It covers 98 percentage of the world population
• It provides a pre-pandemic baseline on the education and health
• The theme of this year human capital index is human capital in the time of
  covid-1
• The analysis done by the World Bank has shown that pre-pandemic, most of
  the countries had made steady progress in building the human capital of
  children, with the biggest strides made in low-income countries
• However, according to the World Bank, despite the progress and even before the
  effects of the pandemic, a child born in a typical country can expect to achieve
  just 56% of their potential human capital, relative to a benchmark of full health
  and complete education

India’s position in the Index – 2020

• In 2019, India had raised serious reservations over the Human Capital Index,
  wherein it was ranked 115 out of 157 countries
• In 2020, India finds itself at 116th among 174 countries.
• World Bank commented on the objections and mentioned that their team has
  worked with countries to improve the quality of data for making it a better index
  for everyone
• World Bank further commented that the team has worked directly with some of
  the client countries to use the index as a way to improve measurement and
  India was exactly one of these cases
• As per the bank, the Human Capital Index provides a basis on which the Indian
  Government can prioritize and a dimension to support the human capital
• Given the progress that is been made in recent times, it seems significant for
  now due to COVID-19
• The Bank has already been working with Indian authorities on supporting the
  livelihoods for the poor, which is very important
• The report says that more than 1 billion children are out of school and there are
  significant disruptions in health services to women and children
• Several children have been listed out of their crucial vaccinations
• The report has found that there has been a major decline in remittances and
  the total income has declined by 11% to 12%

What Is “Human Capital Index”?

• The index is calculated based on three pillars. They are survival, school and
  health
• Under the school category the quantity and quality of education is included in
  calculating the index
• In the health category, the other survival rates and healthy growing among
  children are included
• This includes stunting rates of children under five and share of 15-year-old who
  survive until age of 60
• The human capital index is released by the United Nations development
  program
• On the other hand, Human Development Index is released by the World
  Bank. The HCI uses stunting rate and survival rate to measure health
• The HDI uses per capita income but is excluded in HC

Pic courtesy : financialexpress.com