UPSC Prelims 2000 Q13: Indian Economy – Human Development, Poverty & Employment Schemes
Indian Human Development Report does not give for each sample village
- (a) Infrastructure and Amenities Index
- (b) Education Related Index
- (c) Health Related Index
- (d) Unemployment Related Index
Answer: (d) Unemployment Related Index
Explanation
What the India Human Development Report did not give for each sample village
| Village-level index | In the report? |
|---|---|
| Infrastructure and Amenities Index | Yes |
| Education Related Index | Yes |
| Health Related Index | Yes |
| Unemployment Related Index | No — employment was covered at household level, not as a village index |
The India Human Development Report (NCAER, 1999) was based on a survey of about 33,000 households in rural India.
For each sample village it built indices of infrastructure and amenities, education and health.
It did not give an unemployment index for each village; employment and wages were reported for households and States.
Answer: (d) Unemployment Related Index.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. An infrastructure and amenities index was given for each village.
- (b) Incorrect. An education index was given for each village.
- (c) Incorrect. A health index was given for each village.
- (d) CORRECT. No unemployment index was given for each sample village.
Key point
The NCAER survey later grew into the India Human Development Survey (IHDS), run with the University of Maryland.
Remember
India Human Development Report (1999): no village unemployment index.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every social indicator, including unemployment, had a village index.
- Confusing this NCAER report with UNDP's global Human Development Report.
- Missing the word 'not' in the question.
Exam tip
Village indices: infrastructure, education, health — not jobs.
Sources
- Abusaleh Shariff — India: Human Development Report, NCAER / Oxford University Press (1999)
- NCAER — India Human Development Survey documentation (ihds.umd.edu)