Washington: India is ranked 116 in the latest edition of the World Bank’s annual Human Capital Index. This index evaluates the major components of human capital in countries. According to the Human Capital Index Report released on Wednesday by the World Bank, India’s score has increased from 0.44 in 2018 to 0.49 in 2020.
The Human Capital Index 2020 included health and education data for 174 countries. These figures are as of March 2020, after which the outbreak of the corona virus epidemic increased rapidly. Analysis shows that before the epidemic, most countries made steady progress in building children’s human capital, and especially in low-income countries. However, despite this progress, a child in an average country can expect to achieve only 56 percent of its potential human development potential relative to education and health standards.
David Malpas, Group President of the World Bank, said, “The decade’s progress in building human capital has put the epidemic at risk, including health, life expectancy, school enrollment and malnutrition.” The economic outbreak of the epidemic has been particularly high for women and the most disadvantaged families, causing many families to suffer food insecurity and poverty. ” According to the report, it is important to protect people and invest for them as countries are laying the foundation for a sustainable and inclusive development.
Last year, India raised serious questions about the Human Capital Index, which ranked India 115th out of 157 countries. This year India ranks 116th among 174 countries. When asked about India’s objections last year, World Bank Chief Economist for Human Development Roberta Gaty told reporters that her team worked with countries to improve the quality of data so that it would be better for all Could create an index.
He said that some countries have worked directly together to improve the index and India is one of them. Mamta Murthy, Vice President of Human Development at the World Bank Group, said that the Human Capital Index gives a basis through which the Indian government can prioritize and support human capital.
