📘 Blog: MPSelectionPoint|Written by R. Littey
Chapter 3: Human Development
MP BOARD / CBSE BOARD Exam 2026 Special Quick Revision Notes
1. Meaning of Human Development
“Enlarging people's choices and providing them opportunities to lead a better, healthy, educated, and dignified life.”
In simple words: Development is not just Economic Growth (Income), but Education, Health, Equality, Freedom, and Standard of Living are equally essential.
📌 Important Fact (Exam Point):
The concept of Human Development was popularized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The concept of Human Development was popularized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
2. Human Development vs. Economic Development
| Economic Development | Human Development |
|---|---|
| Focus on increase in Income | Focus on Quality of Life |
| Criteria: GDP/National Income | Criteria: HDI, Education, Health |
| Focus on Means (Resources) | Focus on Ends (Humans) |
👉 A country with high income is not necessarily developed if there is poverty, illiteracy, and inequality.
3. Evolution of Human Development Concept
(A) Income Approach
Development = Higher Income (GDP, GNP).
❌ Flaw: Ignored Health, Education, and Equality.
Development = Higher Income (GDP, GNP).
❌ Flaw: Ignored Health, Education, and Equality.
(B) Welfare Approach
Increased role of Government (Education, Health, Social Security).
❌ Flaw: Did not measure actual freedom and choices.
Increased role of Government (Education, Health, Social Security).
❌ Flaw: Did not measure actual freedom and choices.
(C) Capability Approach
📌 Proposed by Amartya Sen
Main Idea: Development = Expansion of people's capabilities (What people can do/be).
👉 This approach is the foundation of modern human development.
📌 Proposed by Amartya Sen
Main Idea: Development = Expansion of people's capabilities (What people can do/be).
👉 This approach is the foundation of modern human development.
4. Key Components of Human Development
- 1️⃣ Long and Healthy Life: Health services, Nutrition, Life expectancy.
- 2️⃣ Access to Knowledge: Literacy rate, Years of schooling.
- 3️⃣ Decent Standard of Living: Per capita income, Purchasing power.
5. Human Development Index (HDI)
📌 Developed by UNDP (1990). It measures development comparatively across countries.
| Component | Indicator |
|---|---|
| Health | Life Expectancy at Birth |
| Education | Mean Years of Schooling + Expected Years of Schooling |
| Income | GNI Per Capita (PPP) |
HDI value ranges between 0 and 1
6. Classification of Countries based on HDI
- Very High Human Development: 0.800 and above
- High Human Development: 0.700 – 0.799
- Medium Human Development: 0.550 – 0.699
- Low Human Development: Below 0.549
📌 India: Falls in the Medium Human Development category (Frequently asked in exams).
7. Human Poverty Index (HPI)
👉 HPI reflects the shortfall in human development.
- Areas of Measurement: Short life, Illiteracy, Lack of basic amenities.
- Objective: To show what basic needs people are deprived of.
8. Gender Related Indices
- (A) GDI (Gender Development Index): Shows the development disparity between men and women.
- (B) GEM (Gender Empowerment Measure): Measures women's participation (Politics, Administration, Income).
📌 Gender inequality is a major human development issue in India.
9. Human Development and India
India's Situation: Large population, Regional disparity, Rural-Urban gap.
Major Problems: Illiteracy, Malnutrition, Unemployment, Lack of health facilities.
10. Regional Disparities in Human Development in India
| State | Human Development Level |
|---|---|
| Kerala | Very High |
| Delhi | High |
| Bihar, UP | Low |
| Madhya Pradesh | Medium to Low |
📌 MP Exam Special:
In Madhya Pradesh: Low literacy rate, high infant mortality rate, and large rural population.
In Madhya Pradesh: Low literacy rate, high infant mortality rate, and large rural population.
11. Government Initiatives for Human Development
Major Schemes: National Health Mission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Ayushman Bharat, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
👉 Goal: Education, Health, and Women Empowerment.
12. Human Development and Sustainable Development
Meaning of Sustainable Human Development: “Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations.”
Key Points: Environmental protection, Balanced use of resources, Social justice.
13. Very Important Points for Exam (One Glance Revision)
✔ Human Development = Expansion of choices
✔ UNDP → Releases Human Development Report
✔ Amartya Sen → Capability Approach
✔ Three Components of HDI → Health, Education, Income
✔ India → Medium Human Development
✔ Kerala → Highest Human Development (in India)
✔ UNDP → Releases Human Development Report
✔ Amartya Sen → Capability Approach
✔ Three Components of HDI → Health, Education, Income
✔ India → Medium Human Development
✔ Kerala → Highest Human Development (in India)
🔖 Quick Mnemonic to Remember
HDI = H-E-I
H → Health
E → Education
I → Income
H → Health
E → Education
I → Income
50 One Liner Q & A
MP BOARD / CBSE BOARD Exam 2026 Oriented
1. What is the meaning of Human Development?
Answer – Enlarging people's choices is called Human Development.
2. Which organization popularized the concept of Human Development?
Answer – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
3. Who releases the Human Development Report?
Answer – UNDP releases the Human Development Report.
4. When did the Human Development Index start?
Answer – In 1990.
5. What is the range of value for the Human Development Index (HDI)?
Answer – Between 0 and 1.
6. How many main components does the Human Development Index have?
Answer – Three main components.
7. What is the first component of HDI?
Answer – Health (Life Expectancy).
8. What is the second component of HDI?
Answer – Education.
9. What is the third component of HDI?
Answer – Income (Per capita GNI).
10. How is Health measured in HDI?
Answer – By Life Expectancy at birth.
11. How is Education measured in HDI?
Answer – By Mean Years of Schooling and Expected Years of Schooling.
12. On what basis is Income measured in HDI?
Answer – By Per capita GNI (PPP).
13. Amartya Sen is associated with which concept?
Answer – Capability Approach.
14. What is the main objective of the Capability Approach?
Answer – To expand people's capabilities and freedom.
15. What is the central point of Human Development?
Answer – Humans themselves.
16. What is the main criterion for Economic Development?
Answer – National Income or GDP.
17. What aspects are emphasized in Human Development?
Answer – Health, Education, and Standard of Living.
18. What is the HDI value for the Very High Human Development category?
Answer – 0.800 or above.
19. In which Human Development category does India fall?
Answer – In the Medium Human Development category.
20. What does the Human Poverty Index (HPI) show?
Answer – It shows the shortfall in Human Development.
21. What problems does HPI focus on?
Answer – Illiteracy, short lifespan, and lack of amenities.
22. What is the full form of GDI?
Answer – Gender Development Index.
23. What difference does GDI indicate?
Answer – The difference in development levels between men and women.
24. What is the full form of GEM?
Answer – Gender Empowerment Measure.
25. What does GEM measure?
Answer – Women's political and economic participation.
26. What is the major problem of Human Development in India?
Answer – Regional and social inequality.
27. Which state has the highest level of Human Development in India?
Answer – Kerala.
28. In which states is the lowest level of Human Development found in India?
Answer – Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
29. How is the Human Development level in Madhya Pradesh?
Answer – Medium to Low level.
30. Why is education important in Human Development?
Answer – Because it increases skills and opportunities.
31. What is the importance of health in Human Development?
Answer – A healthy life is the foundation of Human Development.
32. What is Human Development related to?
Answer – Quality of life.
33. What is the role of the government in Human Development?
Answer – To provide education, health, and social security.
34. On what basis does the Human Development Report rank countries?
Answer – Based on HDI.
35. Why is gender equality necessary in Human Development?
Answer – Because inequality hinders development.
36. What is the meaning of Sustainable Human Development?
Answer – Developing without harming the future.
37. What is the relationship between Human Development and Environment?
Answer – Environmental protection is necessary for balanced development.
38. What is the effect of unemployment on Human Development?
Answer – It lowers the standard of living.
39. What is the effect of poverty in Human Development?
Answer – It limits opportunities.
40. What is the main problem of rural areas in Human Development?
Answer – Lack of education and health facilities.
41. What is the goal of Human Development?
Answer – To ensure a dignified life.
42. What is the importance of freedom in Human Development?
Answer – It gives people the power to make their own decisions.
43. Why is equality necessary in Human Development?
Answer – Equal opportunities make development balanced.
44. Why is Life Expectancy important in Human Development?
Answer – It indicates the health status.
45. What is the contribution of income in Human Development?
Answer – It improves the standard of living.
46. What is the importance of social security in Human Development?
Answer – It protects the vulnerable sections.
47. Why is child education necessary in Human Development?
Answer – Because it is the foundation of future development.
48. Why is women empowerment necessary in Human Development?
Answer – Because the development of half the population is overall development.
49. What is a limitation of the Human Development Index?
Answer – It does not fully reflect inequality.
50. What is the biggest feature of Human Development?
Answer – It considers humans as both the means and the end of development.
✨ Final Tip (MP/CBSE 2026)
👉 From this chapter, focus especially on Definitions, HDI Table, India's Position, and Amartya Sen — MCQs + 3/5 mark questions are almost certain.
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