Human Development and Sustainable Development

Study Notes and Summary

Human Development Report (HDR):

    • Published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
    • Compares countries based on educational levels, health status, and per capita income.
    • Human Development Index (HDI): A composite index that ranks countries based on these indicators.
    • Key Terms:
      • Gross National Income (GNI) per capita: Income calculated in dollars (PPP $) for international comparison. * 
      • Life Expectancy at Birth: Average expected length of life of a person at the time of birth. 
      • * Mean Years of Schooling: Average number of years of education received by people aged 25 and above. * 
      • Sustainability of Development: * The present types and levels of development are often not sustainable, posing a threat to future generations. *
      •  Groundwater Overuse: A prime example of overuse of renewable resources, where extraction exceeds replenishment. * 
      • Exhaustion of Natural Resources: Non-renewable resources (e.g., crude oil) have fixed stocks and will eventually get exhausted. *
      •  Consequences of Resource Depletion: Increased prices for essential resources, dependence on imports, and potential conflicts over resource control. *

 Intergenerational Equity: The concept that “We have not inherited the world from our forefathers – we have borrowed it from our children,” emphasizing the responsibility to preserve resources for future generations. * Environmental degradation’s impact transcends national or state boundaries, highlighting the interconnectedness of our future.

This MCQ module is based on: Human Development and Sustainable Development

This assessment will be based on: Human Development and Sustainable Development

  • Real-Life Connections & General Knowledge: The HDI ranking of India compared to its neighbors (Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh) highlights the importance of health and education indicators even for countries with lower per capita income. The examples of groundwater overuse in agriculturally prosperous regions and urban settlements demonstrate real-world environmental challenges. * The crude oil reserves data emphasizes global resource limitations and geopolitical implications. *
  •  Case-based Scenarios & Reasoning: Scenario: A country focuses solely on increasing its GNI per capita without investing in public health and education. Discuss the long-term implications for its human development index and overall societal well-being. Scenario: A region heavily relies on groundwater for irrigation, leading to a significant drop in water levels. Propose sustainable agricultural practices and water management strategies to mitigate this issue. *
  •  Conceptual Application: Elaborate on why the Human Development Index (HDI) is considered a more comprehensive measure of development than per capita income alone. Discuss the ethical imperative of sustainable development and the responsibilities of current generations towards future ones. *
  • Comparative & Analytical Points:
    • Compare the HDI components and their significance for different countries.
    • Analyze the relationship between resource depletion and the long-term sustainability of economic growth.
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