This UPSC Prelims practice quiz focuses on Important Development and Social Indices, with questions covering the Human Development Index (HDI), Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI), Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), Gender Inequality Index (GII), Gender Development Index (GDI), Global Hunger Index (GHI), SDG Index, Global Food Security Index, Social Progress Index and India’s National Multidimensional Poverty Index. The page contains 136 MCQs and is marked at Expert difficulty level, making it useful for advanced UPSC Prelims preparation and revision.
The questions test more than simple factual recall. They include conceptual comparisons between indices, interpretation of index values and rankings, dimensions and indicators, methodology, deprivation, inequality, gender-related measures, food security and sustainable development. Several questions use statement-based and analytical formats that require careful elimination and conceptual understanding.
Each question is accompanied by the correct answer and an explanation, while the interactive quiz interface provides one-question-at-a-time navigation, timer functionality and scoring. A complete list of questions, answers and explanations is also available on the page for revision.
This quiz is particularly useful for aspirants preparing UPSC Prelims, especially for strengthening conceptual clarity around important indices frequently relevant to Economic and Social Development.
Important Indices for UPSC Prelims: HDI, MPI & GII MCQs
Description
Practice UPSC Prelims MCQs on important indices including HDI, IHDI, MPI, GII, GDI, GHI, SDG Index and National MPI with answers and explanations.
Difficulty
Expert
Num Questions
136
Points Per Question
1
Time Limit
120 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
All MCQ Questions with Answers and Explanations
Question 1: With reference to the comprehensive study of major social-development indices, which of the following statements are correct? (1) Assessing a country's development through only one index may provide an incomplete picture. (2) Average achievement, inequality, and deprivation provide different analytical perspectives. (3) Hunger and food security are identical concepts. (4) The Gender Development Index and Gender Inequality Index measure different concepts. (5) Sustainable development encompasses social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
Correct Answer:
A
— 1, 2, 4 and 5
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct because no single index captures every dimension of development. Statement 2 is correct because average achievement, inequality, and multidimensional deprivation provide different perspectives. Statement 3 is incorrect because hunger and food security are related but distinct concepts. Statement 4 is correct because the Gender Development Index compares female and male human development achievements, whereas the Gender Inequality Index measures specific dimensions of gender disadvantage. Statement 5 is correct because sustainable development is multidimensional.
Question 2: If a country's position improves in the ranking of an index, which of the following conclusions cannot be drawn automatically?
Correct Answer:
B
— Its absolute social condition has improved in every aspect.
Explanation:
Rank indicates a relative position. An increase in a country's rank does not mean that every aspect of its absolute social condition has improved. Changes in the performance of other countries can also affect the rank. Therefore, while interpreting a change in rank, the original value, methodology, and reference year should be examined.
Question 3: Which of the following pairs is incorrectly matched?
Correct Answer:
C
— Human Development Index — Political representation, civil liberties, and press freedom
Explanation:
The Human Development Index includes health, education, and standard of living. Political representation, civil liberties, and press freedom are not its core dimensions. Such broader social and institutional aspects are more directly examined in other frameworks such as the Social Progress Index.
Question 4: Which of the following statements most appropriately describes the difference between the Sustainable Development Goal Index and the Human Development Index?
Correct Answer:
D
— The Human Development Index focuses on basic human development achievements, whereas the Sustainable Development Goal Index examines progress towards broader Sustainable Development Goals.
Explanation:
The Human Development Index focuses on three basic dimensions—health, education, and standard of living. The Sustainable Development Goal Index measures progress towards numerous social, economic, and environmental goals.
Question 5: In a country, the incidence of multidimensional poverty declines from 30 percent to 20 percent, while the intensity of poverty remains constant at 40 percent. What will happen to the Multidimensional Poverty Index?
Correct Answer:
A
— It will decline.
Explanation:
The Multidimensional Poverty Index is calculated as the product of the incidence of multidimensional poverty and the intensity of deprivation. Initially, MPI = 0.30 × 0.40 = 0.12. After the decline in incidence, MPI = 0.20 × 0.40 = 0.08. Therefore, the MPI will decline.
Question 6: If the gap between female and male human development achievements decreases in a country, but there is no improvement in women's parliamentary representation and labour market participation, which of the following conclusions is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
C
— The Gender Development Index may improve, while improvement in gender inequality may remain limited.
Explanation:
The Gender Development Index focuses on the ratio of female and male human development achievements. The Gender Inequality Index also includes empowerment and the labour market. Therefore, even if the gender gap in human development decreases, stagnant political representation and labour force participation may limit improvement in gender inequality.
Question 7: Which of the following options most accurately represents the relationship between the Human Development Index and the Multidimensional Poverty Index?
Correct Answer:
B
— The former summarizes average achievements, while the latter identifies deprivations.
Explanation:
The Human Development Index measures average achievements in health, education, and standard of living. The Multidimensional Poverty Index identifies deprivations in health, education, and standard of living. The two are related, but their approaches are different.
Question 8: Which of the following statements are correct? (1) High human development and high gender equality can coexist in a country. (2) High human development does not mean that multidimensional poverty has been eliminated in a country. (3) An increase in food availability automatically improves all dimensions of food security. (4) Some goals may remain weak despite overall improvement in the Sustainable Development Goal Index.
Correct Answer:
D
— Only 1, 2 and 4
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct; high human development and a better gender situation can coexist. Statement 2 is correct; average human development and deprivations are distinct concepts. Statement 3 is incorrect because affordability, access, quality and safety, and sustainability are also important for food security. Statement 4 is correct because some goal-specific weaknesses may persist within a composite index.
Question 9: Which of the following statements is correct?
Correct Answer:
A
— A high value in the Human Development Index generally indicates better human development.
Explanation:
A high value in the Human Development Index indicates better human development. In contrast, lower values in the Global Hunger Index and Gender Inequality Index indicate better situations. Therefore, the direction of each index must be understood separately.
Question 10: In a country, the Human Development Index increased, but the increase in the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index remained relatively limited. At the same time, a decline in multidimensional poverty was recorded. Which of the following conclusions is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
C
— Despite improvement in average human development and reduction in deprivations, inequality in the distribution of achievements may persist.
Explanation:
The Human Development Index reflects average achievements, the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index takes the distribution of achievements into account, and multidimensional poverty identifies deprivations. Therefore, even when all three improve, the rate of change among them may differ.
Question 11: A country experiences an increase in the Human Development Index, limited improvement in the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index, a decline in multidimensional poverty, and improvement in female labour force participation, but regional inequality in food security still persists. What is the most appropriate conclusion from this situation?
Correct Answer:
A
— Despite improvement in average human development, distributional, gender, and food-security challenges may require separate policy attention.
Explanation:
This example clearly demonstrates that different indices capture different aspects of development. The Human Development Index helps understand average achievements, the inequality-adjusted index distribution, multidimensional poverty deprivations, gender indices gender gaps, and the food security index specific dimensions of the food system. Therefore, improvement in one index does not eliminate problems in all other areas.
Question 12: Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Correct Answer:
C
— Multidimensional Poverty Index — Deprivation across multiple dimensions
Explanation:
The Multidimensional Poverty Index jointly examines deprivations across multiple dimensions such as health, education, and standard of living. The other three options present the respective indices in an excessively narrow manner.
Question 13: Which of the following statements are correct? (1) A high value of an index does not always indicate a better situation. (2) In some indices, a high value may indicate a greater problem or greater inequality. (3) It is necessary to examine the methodology of an index to understand the direction of its values.
Correct Answer:
B
— 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
The direction of different indices varies. For example, a high value in the Human Development Index indicates a better situation, whereas a low value in the Gender Inequality Index and Global Hunger Index indicates a better situation. Therefore, studying the methodology is essential.
Question 14: Which of the following sequences is most appropriate from the perspective of studying an index?
Correct Answer:
D
— Objective → Dimensions → Indicators → Methodology → Interpretation of the value
Explanation:
At the UPSC level, analysis of an index should not be limited to memorizing its rank. It is more useful to first understand its objective, followed by its dimensions, indicators, methodology, and finally the direction and policy significance of its value.
Question 15: With reference to the Social Progress Index and Human Development Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) Both are useful for understanding social outcomes beyond economic growth. (2) The Social Progress Index can include aspects such as rights and opportunity. (3) The structure of the Human Development Index and Social Progress Index is exactly the same.
Correct Answer:
A
— Only 1 and 2
Explanation:
The Human Development Index focuses on average achievements in health, education, and standard of living, whereas the Social Progress Index examines broader social and environmental progress and also incorporates aspects such as rights and opportunity. Their structures are not identical.
Question 16: If a household experiences deprivation in nutrition, schooling, and sanitation, what is the most appropriate conclusion from the perspective of multidimensional poverty?
Correct Answer:
C
— The combined weight of these deprivations will be important in determining whether the household is multidimensionally poor.
Explanation:
The identification of multidimensional poverty involves combining deprivations across different indicators according to their weights. Based on the specified poverty cutoff, it is determined whether the household is multidimensionally poor.
Question 17: With reference to multidimensional poverty, which of the following statements are correct? (1) The incidence of poverty represents the proportion of the population that is poor. (2) The intensity of poverty represents the average weighted deprivation experienced by poor people. (3) Two countries with the same incidence of poverty must have the same multidimensional poverty.
Correct Answer:
B
— Only 1 and 2
Explanation:
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect because the intensity of deprivations may differ despite the same incidence. Consequently, the Multidimensional Poverty Index may also differ.
Question 18: With reference to the Gender Inequality Index, how many of the following pairs are correctly matched? (1) Maternal mortality ratio — Reproductive health (2) Adolescent birth rate — Reproductive health (3) Women's representation in Parliament — Empowerment (4) Female and male labour-force participation — Labour market
Correct Answer:
D
— All four
Explanation:
All four pairs are correctly matched. The Gender Inequality Index covers reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market. Maternal mortality ratio and adolescent birth rate belong to reproductive health; parliamentary representation belongs to empowerment; and labour-force participation belongs to the labour-market dimension.
Question 19: With reference to the Gender Development Index, if female and male human development achievements in a country become approximately equal, which of the following outcomes is most likely?
Correct Answer:
A
— The Gender Development Index may approach one.
Explanation:
The Gender Development Index is based on the ratio of female and male Human Development Indices. When their achievements become equal or nearly equal, the ratio approaches one. This indicates a reduction in the gender gap.
Question 20: With reference to the Gender Development Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) It expresses the ratio between female and male Human Development Indices. (2) Its objective is only to measure the income gap between women and men. (3) It can be used to assess the gap between female and male human development achievements.
Correct Answer:
C
— Only 1 and 3
Explanation:
The Gender Development Index is based on the ratio of female and male Human Development Indices. It includes human development dimensions related to health, education, and standard of living. Therefore, it is incorrect to consider it merely an indicator of the income gap.
Question 21: In a state, multidimensional poverty declines, the Human Development Index increases, and gender inequality decreases, but some structural weaknesses related to food security persist. What is the most appropriate interpretation of this situation?
Correct Answer:
B
— Despite improvements in different indices, specific dimensions of food security need to be examined separately because one index does not automatically capture all the problems measured by another.
Explanation:
Different indices measure different aspects of development. Human development relates to average achievements, multidimensional poverty to deprivations, and gender inequality to gender disadvantage, while food security includes specific dimensions such as affordability, availability, quality and safety, and sustainability. Therefore, improvement in one area does not automatically eliminate weaknesses in another.
Question 22: With reference to NITI Aayog's SDG India Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) It provides performance measurement for individual Sustainable Development Goals. (2) It also provides a composite score based on performance across the goals. (3) It can be used to compare the performance of States and Union Territories and identify areas requiring policy attention. (4) An increase in the value of an indicator necessarily represents an improvement in performance.
Correct Answer:
C
— Only 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
The SDG India Index provides goal-wise as well as composite performance information and can help identify areas requiring policy attention. However, the interpretation of an indicator depends on its methodology; an increase in a particular indicator does not necessarily mean better performance in every case.
Question 23: With reference to the Global Food Security Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) Food affordability is an independent aspect of food security. (2) Food availability and food quality and safety are distinct concepts. (3) The sustainability and adaptation dimension helps understand long-term risks to the food system. (4) The index is based only on the quantity of food production.
Correct Answer:
C
— Only 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
The Global Food Security Index includes broad dimensions such as affordability, availability, quality and safety, and sustainability and adaptation. Therefore, it is not merely an index of the quantity of food production.
Question 24: Which of the following sequences is correct with regard to the structure of the Social Progress Index?
Correct Answer:
A
— Dimensions → Components → Indicators
Explanation:
The framework of the Social Progress Index is based on a structure of dimensions, components, and specific indicators. In the current methodology, multiple components and indicators are included under three major dimensions.
Question 25: What is the most important conceptual difference between the Human Development Index and the Social Progress Index?
Correct Answer:
B
— The Human Development Index provides a composite measure of certain basic human development achievements, whereas the Social Progress Index assesses broader social progress by considering social and environmental outcomes separately from economic measures.
Explanation:
The Human Development Index summarizes average achievements in health, education, and standard of living. The Social Progress Index goes beyond economic measures to assess social and environmental progress and incorporates Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity.
Question 26: With reference to the Social Progress Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) It seeks to assess social and environmental progress beyond economic measures such as Gross Domestic Product. (2) Its three major dimensions are Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity. (3) Its framework is limited to health and education indicators. (4) The Opportunity dimension includes aspects such as rights, freedom and choice, inclusion, and access to advanced education.
Correct Answer:
D
— Only 1, 2 and 4
Explanation:
The Social Progress Index assesses social and environmental outcomes independently of economic measures. Its framework consists of Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity. The Opportunity dimension includes rights, freedom and choice, inclusiveness, and access to advanced education. Statement 3 is therefore incorrect.
Question 27: Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched in the National Multidimensional Poverty Index?
Correct Answer:
C
— Bank account — Education
Explanation:
Bank account falls under the standard-of-living dimension, not education. The National Multidimensional Poverty Index has three dimensions—health, education, and standard of living—and assesses deprivation through twelve indicators.
Question 28: With reference to India's National Multidimensional Poverty Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) Health, education, and standard of living are given equal weights. (2) The individual indicators within the standard-of-living dimension do not all carry equal weights. (3) Bank account is one of the additional indicators included in India's National Multidimensional Poverty Index. (4) Deprivation in any single indicator automatically makes a person multidimensionally poor.
Correct Answer:
A
— Only 1 and 3
Explanation:
India's National MPI assigns one-third weight to each of the three dimensions. The individual indicators have different weights according to the MPI methodology. Bank account is one of the additional indicators. A person is identified as multidimensionally poor only when the weighted deprivation reaches the specified poverty cutoff; deprivation in one indicator alone is not sufficient.
Question 29: A country's Gross National Income per capita increases very rapidly, while life expectancy and education indicators remain unchanged. Which conclusion is more appropriate with reference to the Human Development Index?
Correct Answer:
B
— The Human Development Index may increase, but the effect of income growth becomes progressively less effective because of the logarithmic transformation.
Explanation:
The Human Development Index uses Gross National Income per capita for the standard-of-living dimension and applies a logarithmic transformation to income. Therefore, an increase in income can raise the index, but the effect of very large additional increases in income does not rise in the same proportion.
Question 30: With reference to the methodology of calculating the Human Development Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) The HDI is calculated as the geometric mean of the normalized indices of its three dimensions. (2) The use of a geometric mean reduces the extent to which a very high achievement in one dimension can compensate for a low achievement in another dimension. (3) The income dimension is calculated directly from Gross National Income per capita without any logarithmic transformation.
Correct Answer:
D
— Only 1 and 2
Explanation:
The HDI uses the geometric mean of normalized indices for health, education, and standard of living. The income dimension uses the logarithm of GNI per capita, reflecting the diminishing contribution of additional income to human development. Therefore, Statement 3 is incorrect.
Question 31: With reference to the contemporary analysis of major social development indices, which of the following approaches is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
C
— Drawing conclusions by considering the methodology, indicators, direction, distribution, and national context of the index together.
Explanation:
For UPSC, the importance of indices does not lie merely in memorizing their ranks or scores. The objective, indicators, weights, direction of values, and methodology of each index may differ. Therefore, it is more appropriate to study indices related to human development, inequality, poverty, gender status, hunger, food security, and sustainable development in their specific contexts. Current index material from the United Nations Development Programme and NITI Aayog also focuses on different dimensions.
Question 32: With reference to the contemporary use of the Human Development Index, Gender Inequality Index, and Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index, which of the following statements is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
A
— Reading all three together can help understand different dimensions of average human development, distributional inequality, and gender inequality.
Explanation:
The Human Development Index focuses on average achievements, the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index incorporates the distribution of those achievements, and the Gender Inequality Index measures specific dimensions of gender disadvantage. Therefore, studying them together provides a more comprehensive analysis.
Question 33: The overall score of a state in the Sustainable Development Goal Index improved, but its position remained weak under the goals of climate action and gender equality. Which of the following conclusions is appropriate?
Correct Answer:
B
— Despite overall improvement, some goal-specific weaknesses may persist.
Explanation:
The composite index summarizes various goal-specific performances into a combined value. Therefore, some specific goals may remain relatively weak even when the overall score increases. The Sustainable Development Goal India Index is also used to identify goal-specific weaknesses.
Question 34: With reference to India's Human Development Index and Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index, which of the following conclusions is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
D
— When inequality is taken into account, India's adjusted level of human development achievement may be considerably lower than the regular Human Development Index.
Explanation:
The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index incorporates inequality in achievements in health, education, and income. According to the United Nations Development Programme, inequality causes a significant loss in India's human development; therefore, average achievement and distributional achievement need to be examined separately.
Question 35: With reference to the contemporary context of India's National Multidimensional Poverty and human development, which of the following conclusions is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
A
— Reduction in multidimensional poverty and an increase in human development can occur simultaneously because the two reflect different but interconnected aspects of development.
Explanation:
The Human Development Index measures average achievements, whereas multidimensional poverty identifies deprivations. Therefore, both can improve simultaneously, but a change in one does not necessarily cause a change in the other in the same proportion. The United Nations Development Programme's 2025 report mentions that 135 million people in India moved out of multidimensional poverty between 2015–16 and 2019–21.
Question 36: With reference to the SDG India Index 2023-24 published by NITI Aayog, which of the following statements are correct? (1) The Index covers goals related to poverty, hunger, health, and education. (2) Gender Equality is included as a separate Sustainable Development Goal. (3) Climate Action is included as a separate Sustainable Development Goal. (4) The Index is constructed only from indicators of economic growth.
Correct Answer:
C
— Only 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
The SDG India Index covers multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, and Climate Action. It is not limited to economic-growth indicators.
Question 37: With reference to NITI Aayog's Sustainable Development Goal India Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) It assesses the progress of states and Union Territories towards the Sustainable Development Goals. (2) It measures only the goal related to poverty. (3) Goal-specific performance can be compared under it. (4) It can be used to identify policy gaps.
Correct Answer:
B
— Only 1, 3 and 4
Explanation:
NITI Aayog's Sustainable Development Goal India Index provides both a composite and goal-specific assessment of the progress of states and Union Territories towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Along with comparison, it also helps identify weaker areas and support policy improvement. It is not limited to poverty alone.
Question 38: With reference to India's human development indicators reported in the Human Development Report 2025, which of the following statements are correct? (1) Life expectancy at birth increased between 2022 and 2023. (2) Mean years of schooling increased between 2022 and 2023. (3) Expected years of schooling remained unchanged between 2022 and 2023. (4) Gross National Income per capita increased between 2022 and 2023.
Correct Answer:
C
— Only 1, 2 and 4
Explanation:
According to the 2025 Human Development Report, India's life expectancy increased from 71.7 to 72.0 years and mean years of schooling increased from 6.6 to 6.9 years between 2022 and 2023. GNI per capita also increased. Expected years of schooling showed a small increase rather than remaining unchanged.
Question 39: Which of the following conclusions is most appropriate from the 2025 Human Development Report regarding India's human development?
Correct Answer:
A
— Despite improvement in the Human Development Index, inequality can reduce human development achievements.
Explanation:
India's Human Development Index increased to 0.685 in 2023, but inequality resulted in a 30.7 percent loss in human development. This demonstrates the need to examine overall human development progress and the distribution of achievements separately.
Question 40: With reference to the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report 2025, which of the following statements are correct? (1) India's Human Development Index value increased in 2023 compared with 2022. (2) India remained in the medium human development category. (3) India experienced a substantial loss in human development when inequality was taken into account. (4) The report examines the implications of artificial intelligence for human development.
Correct Answer:
C
— 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation:
The 2025 Human Development Report records India's HDI at 0.685 for 2023, placing India in the medium human development category. The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index indicates a 30.7 percent loss due to inequality. The report, titled A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI, also examines the implications of artificial intelligence for human development.
Question 41: Which of the following options presents the most comprehensive approach to the use of major social-development indices?
Correct Answer:
D
— Reading average achievement, inequality, deprivation, gender status, hunger, food security, and different dimensions of sustainable development in a complementary manner.
Explanation:
No single index provides the complete picture of development. The Human Development Index helps understand average achievements, the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index distributional inequality, the Multidimensional Poverty Index deprivations, gender indices gender gaps, the hunger index nutritional outcomes, and the Sustainable Development Goal Index progress towards broad development goals. Their complementary use provides a more comprehensive analysis.
Question 42: With reference to the Sustainable Development Goal Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) It compares the progress of states and Union Territories towards the Sustainable Development Goals. (2) It can reflect performance for each goal as well as the combined performance across all goals. (3) It can be used to identify important regional weaknesses. (4) A high overall score means that the level of achievement is the same for every goal.
Correct Answer:
A
— Only 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
NITI Aayog's Sustainable Development Goal Index measures the progress of states and Union Territories with respect to different goals as well as on a composite basis. It also aims to help identify important regional and area-specific weaknesses and guide policy interventions. A high overall score does not mean equal achievement in every goal.
Question 43: With reference to the Global Food Security Index (GFSI), which of the following statements is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
B
— It considers dimensions such as affordability, availability, quality and safety, and sustainability and adaptation.
Explanation:
The GFSI is multidimensional. Its framework includes affordability, availability, quality and safety, and sustainability and adaptation. Therefore, it is broader than agricultural production or international food trade alone.
Question 44: With reference to the Gender Development Index and Gender Inequality Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) The Gender Development Index is related to the difference between female and male human development achievements. (2) The Gender Inequality Index includes the dimensions of reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market. (3) Both indices measure only the difference in women's income.
Correct Answer:
D
— Only 1 and 2
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct. The Gender Development Index compares female and male human development achievements. Statement 2 is correct because the Gender Inequality Index incorporates three major dimensions. Statement 3 is incorrect because neither index is based solely on the income gap.
Question 45: With reference to India's National Multidimensional Poverty Index, which of the following statements is correct?
Correct Answer:
A
— It has three equally weighted dimensions—health, education, and standard of living—with a total of twelve indicators.
Explanation:
India's National Multidimensional Poverty Index has three equally weighted dimensions—health, education, and standard of living. A total of twelve indicators are included under these dimensions.
Question 46: With reference to the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) It takes into account inequality in the distribution of achievement in each dimension of the Human Development Index. (2) Under conditions of perfect equality, its value may be equal to that of the Human Development Index. (3) As inequality increases, it becomes higher than the regular Human Development Index.
Correct Answer:
B
— Only 1 and 2
Explanation:
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index takes into account the distribution of achievements in each dimension. Under perfect equality, there is no loss due to inequality; therefore, the values of the two indices may be equal. Statement 3 is incorrect because as inequality increases, the adjusted value generally declines.
Question 47: If two countries have the same Human Development Index, which of the following conclusions is not necessarily correct?
Correct Answer:
B
— Each health, education, and income-related achievement of the two countries is identical.
Explanation:
The Human Development Index summarizes achievements across different dimensions into a composite value. Therefore, the same overall value does not mean identical achievement in each dimension. Two countries may have different achievements in health, education, and standard of living and still have the same composite index value.
Question 48: With reference to the Human Development Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) It expresses average human development achievements in a summarized form. (2) It presents the complete picture of poverty and inequality in a country. (3) Countries with the same per capita Gross National Income may have different Human Development Index values.
Correct Answer:
A
— Only 1 and 3
Explanation:
The Human Development Index is a composite measure of average achievements in health, education, and standard of living. It does not fully capture all aspects such as poverty, inequality, and empowerment. Countries with the same per capita Gross National Income may have different Human Development Index values because their achievements in health and education may differ.
Question 49: In which of the following circumstances would considering the Human Development Index, Multidimensional Poverty Index, and Sustainable Development Goal Index together provide the most useful information for policymaking?
Correct Answer:
C
— When average human development, deprivations, and progress towards broad Sustainable Development Goals are considered together
Explanation:
The Human Development Index provides information on average achievements, the Multidimensional Poverty Index provides information on deprivations, and the Sustainable Development Goal Index helps assess broad progress across social, economic, and environmental goals. Considering all three together can provide a more comprehensive picture for policymaking.
Question 50: Two countries have similar geographical conditions, including comparable area, climate, and agricultural structures. However, Country ‘A’ performs better than Country ‘B’ in food security. Which of the following best explains this difference?
Correct Answer:
A
— Food security depends not only on natural conditions but also on affordability, access, quality and safety, institutional capacity, and resilience.
Explanation:
Food security depends on a combination of economic, institutional, social, environmental, and agricultural factors. Therefore, similar geographical conditions do not necessarily produce similar food-security outcomes.
Question 51: Which of the following statements are correct? (1) The Gender Development Index compares the human development levels of women and men. (2) The Gender Inequality Index focuses on specific dimensions of gender disadvantage experienced by women. (3) The values of both indices should be interpreted in the same manner.
Correct Answer:
B
— Only 1 and 2
Explanation:
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Gender Development Index provides a comparison based on the ratio of female and male human development achievements, while the Gender Inequality Index examines inequalities related to reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market. Statement 3 is incorrect because the two indices are not interpreted in the same manner.
Question 52: Which of the following pairs is incorrectly matched?
Correct Answer:
D
— Global Hunger Index — Food production, agricultural exports, and food storage
Explanation:
The Global Hunger Index includes indicators such as undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality. Food production, agricultural exports, and food storage are not its four core components.
Question 53: Which of the following statements are correct? (1) High food production in a region is not, by itself, sufficient evidence of high food security. (2) Affordability and access to food are important dimensions of food security. (3) The food security of a country can be assessed conclusively from its agricultural characteristics alone.
Correct Answer:
A
— Only 1 and 2
Explanation:
Food security is multidimensional. Production and availability are important, but affordability, access, quality and safety, and sustainability also matter. Therefore, agricultural characteristics alone cannot provide a complete assessment.
Question 54: If the position of two countries on the world map is as follows—Country ‘A’ is located in a region of very high human development, while Country ‘B’ is located in a region of medium human development, but the distribution of development achievements in Country ‘A’ is highly unequal and relatively equal in Country ‘B’. Which of the following statements is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
D
— Despite an advantage in overall human development, inequality in Country ‘A’ may limit its adjusted outcome.
Explanation:
A map provides only regional context. Actual information on human development achievements and their distribution is required for the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index. Therefore, despite higher average human development, greater inequality may lower the adjusted outcome.
Question 55: Looking at the countries of South Asia on the world map, which of the following conclusions should a candidate avoid drawing?
Correct Answer:
B
— Due to geographical proximity, all countries will have approximately the same Human Development Index.
Explanation:
Geographical proximity does not automatically make the Human Development Index of countries similar. Human development is influenced by multiple factors, including health, education, and standard of living. Therefore, countries located close to each other on a map may also have significant differences in development outcomes.
Question 56: Which of the following statements is most appropriate regarding the interpretation of major social-development indices?
Correct Answer:
C
— A country with high human development does not necessarily have the lowest inequality.
Explanation:
High average human development does not necessarily imply low inequality. Similarly, food security depends not only on availability but also on affordability, quality and safety, and sustainability and adaptation.
Question 57: With reference to the Sustainable Development Goal Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) High achievement in one goal does not automatically eliminate the problem of weak performance in another goal. (2) Different Sustainable Development Goals may be interrelated. (3) The index can be used to promote policy learning and competitive improvement among states and Union Territories. (4) The composite index is used only to determine the final rank; identification of goal-specific weaknesses is not possible through it.
Correct Answer:
D
— Only 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct. The Sustainable Development Goals are interrelated, and NITI Aayog's Sustainable Development Goal Index is used for comparison among states and Union Territories, identification of goal-specific weaknesses, and learning from better policy practices. Statement 4 is incorrect because the index also provides goal-specific performance information along with the composite score.
Question 58: In a country, maternal health improves, women's representation in Parliament increases, and women's labour force participation rises, but there is very little change in the gap between male and female human development levels. Based on these changes, which conclusion is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
B
— The Gender Inequality Index is likely to improve, while the direction of the Gender Development Index may differ because the two have different structures.
Explanation:
Reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market are major dimensions of the Gender Inequality Index. Therefore, improvements in these areas can reduce gender inequality. In contrast, the Gender Development Index focuses on the ratio of female and male human development achievements. Hence, the direction of the two indices need not be the same.
Question 59: With reference to the Gender Inequality Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) It incorporates inequality related to reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market. (2) A lower value indicates a better gender situation. (3) It is simply another name for the ratio of female and male human development achievements.
Correct Answer:
A
— Only 1 and 2
Explanation:
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Gender Inequality Index measures gender disadvantage across three dimensions, and a lower value indicates better performance. Statement 3 is incorrect because the concept related to the ratio of female and male human development achievements is associated with the Gender Development Index, not the Gender Inequality Index.
Question 60: If the overall Sustainable Development Goal Index score of a State increases, which of the following conclusions cannot be drawn automatically?
Correct Answer:
A
— The State has improved by the same proportion under every Sustainable Development Goal.
Explanation:
A composite score summarizes performance across multiple goals. An increase in the overall score does not imply that every goal has improved equally. The SDG India Index also provides goal-specific information, allowing weaker areas to be identified.
Question 61: What is the most appropriate rationale for including ‘Natural Resources and Resilience’ in the Global Food Security Index?
Correct Answer:
B
— It links food security with long-term environmental and resource-related risks.
Explanation:
In the methodology of the Global Food Security Index, natural resources and resilience were developed as a separate dimension so that food systems could also be examined in the context of long-term risks associated with climate and natural resources. It does not limit food security merely to current food availability.
Question 62: With reference to the Human Development Index, Multidimensional Poverty Index, and Sustainable Development Goal Index, which of the following statements is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
D
— All three provide a broad picture of development, but their objectives, units, indicators, and levels of analysis may differ.
Explanation:
The Human Development Index focuses on average human development achievements, the Multidimensional Poverty Index identifies deprivations, while the Sustainable Development Goal Index assesses progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, despite addressing related themes, their objectives and structures differ.
Question 63: With reference to India's Sustainable Development Goal Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) It seeks to measure the progress of states and Union Territories towards the Sustainable Development Goals. (2) States and Union Territories can be assessed for each goal as well as on the basis of all goals jointly. (3) Its objective is only to compare the economic growth of states. (4) It can be used to identify policy gaps and undertake targeted improvements.
Correct Answer:
C
— Only 1, 2 and 4
Explanation:
According to NITI Aayog, the Sustainable Development Goal Index provides a composite measurement of the progress of states and Union Territories towards the Sustainable Development Goals. It helps in comparison on the basis of individual goals as well as overall goals and in identifying areas where policy intervention is required. Its objective is not merely to compare economic growth.
Question 64: With reference to the Multidimensional Poverty Index, which of the following statements are correct? (1) It not only indicates how many people are poor, but also gives importance to the intensity of deprivations experienced by poor people. (2) Even when two countries have the same incidence of multidimensional poverty, their overall level of poverty may differ. (3) Improvement in income will necessarily reduce multidimensional poverty in the same proportion.
Correct Answer:
A
— Only 1 and 2
Explanation:
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Along with the incidence of multidimensional poverty, its intensity is also important. Therefore, countries with the same poverty rate may have different overall situations if the average intensity of deprivations differs. Statement 3 is incorrect because multidimensional poverty includes multiple deprivations related to health, education, and standard of living in addition to income.
Question 65: Which of the following situations is more likely to create a large difference between the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index and the Human Development Index?
Correct Answer:
D
— Widely unequal distribution of achievements in health, education, and income
Explanation:
The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index incorporates the loss arising from inequality in the distribution of achievements in health, education, and income. Therefore, if inequality is widespread across multiple dimensions, the difference between the regular Human Development Index and its inequality-adjusted form may be greater.
Question 66: A country's Human Development Index has improved continuously, but a gender gap in human development persists, while women's political representation and labour-force participation remain relatively low. Which of the following is the most appropriate interpretation?
Correct Answer:
B
— Along with overall human development, gender development and gender inequality should also be examined separately.
Explanation:
The HDI measures average human development achievements, whereas the Gender Development Index compares female and male human development achievements and the Gender Inequality Index captures gender disadvantage in reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market.
Question 67: With reference to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which of the following approaches is most appropriate for assessing sustainable development?
Correct Answer:
C
— Progress should be assessed across the social, economic, and environmental dimensions because the SDGs are interconnected.
Explanation:
The SDGs cover interconnected social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Therefore, progress in one goal does not by itself represent overall sustainable development.
Question 68: Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (1) Human Development Index — Average human development achievements (2) Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index — Inequality in the distribution of achievements (3) Gender Development Index — Ratio of female and male human development achievements (4) Gender Inequality Index — Only the female-male income gap
Correct Answer:
D
— Only 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
The first three pairs are correct. The Gender Development Index expresses the gender gap through the ratio of female and male Human Development Indices. The fourth pair is incorrect because the Gender Inequality Index is not limited to the income gap; it includes reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market.
Question 69: A country has adequate food production, but poor households have low purchasing power, nutritious food is relatively expensive, and access to safe and quality food is limited in some regions. Which of the following is the most appropriate way to understand this situation?
Correct Answer:
B
— Food security should be assessed through multiple dimensions, including affordability, availability, quality and safety, and sustainability and adaptation.
Explanation:
Food security is multidimensional. The Global Food Security Index considers affordability, availability, quality and safety, and sustainability and adaptation. Therefore, adequate production alone does not guarantee food security.
Question 70: In a country, the prevalence of undernourishment declines, but the expected improvement in child stunting and child wasting does not occur. From the perspective of the Global Hunger Index, which of the following conclusions is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
A
— Improvement in undernourishment alone may improve the overall hunger situation, but the improvement may remain limited if other child nutrition components remain weak.
Explanation:
The Global Hunger Index incorporates four components—undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality. Therefore, improvement in only one component can influence the overall direction of the index, but the condition of the other components also affects the final outcome.
Question 71: With reference to India's National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which of the following statements is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
D
— While broadly aligned with the global MPI framework, India's national MPI incorporates additional indicators reflecting national priorities.
Explanation:
India's National MPI follows the broad multidimensional framework of health, education, and standard of living while incorporating additional indicators relevant to India's national context, such as maternal health and bank account.
Question 72: Which of the following statements are correct? (1) A country may have a high Human Development Index and yet some groups may face multidimensional poverty. (2) Inequality may increase alongside improvement in average human development in a country. (3) Therefore, the condition of socially disadvantaged groups can be fully assessed solely on the basis of the Human Development Index.
Correct Answer:
A
— Only 1 and 2
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct because average human development and deprivation among specific groups can coexist. Statement 2 is also correct because distributional inequality may increase alongside improvement in average achievements. Statement 3 is incorrect because the overall Human Development Index does not fully reflect group-specific deprivations. Inequality-adjusted and multidimensional indices provide additional information.
Question 73: In a country, women's health indicators improve significantly and women's educational attainment also increases, but women's representation in Parliament and their participation in the labour market remain relatively low. Which of the following statements best explains this situation?
Correct Answer:
B
— Improvement in the Gender Inequality Index may remain limited because it also considers empowerment and labour-market participation along with reproductive health.
Explanation:
The Gender Inequality Index (GII) measures gender disadvantage in reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market. Therefore, improvement in health alone does not necessarily lead to a proportionate improvement in the GII if gender gaps in political representation and labour-force participation remain.
Question 74: In a country, average years of schooling increase, life expectancy rises, and per capita income increases, but regional inequality in these achievements also increases. Which of the following conclusions is most appropriate in the context of these changes?
Correct Answer:
D
— Improvement in average achievements may increase the Human Development Index, while rising inequality may limit the gains in the adjusted index.
Explanation:
The regular Human Development Index focuses on average achievements. Therefore, improvement in averages across all three dimensions may increase its value. However, the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index also takes inequality in distribution into account; hence, rising inequality may limit its improvement.
Question 75: Which of the following situations would be most conducive to simultaneous improvement in the Human Development Index and reduction in multidimensional poverty in a country?
Correct Answer:
A
— Broad-based improvement in life expectancy, schooling, and basic standard-of-living facilities, particularly among disadvantaged households
Explanation:
The Human Development Index considers average achievements in health, education, and standard of living, whereas multidimensional poverty identifies deprivations in health, education, and standard of living. Therefore, broad availability of basic services among disadvantaged groups can improve both dimensions simultaneously. An increase in income alone or an improvement benefiting only one group does not ensure similar improvement in both indices.
Question 76: Three countries have the following characteristics: Country ‘A’ has a high Human Development Index (HDI) but considerable inequality in human development achievements; Country ‘B’ has an HDI similar to that of ‘A’ but a more equal distribution of achievements; and Country ‘C’ has a lower HDI than both but very low inequality. With reference to the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI), which of the following conclusions is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
C
— Country ‘B’ may have a higher IHDI than Country ‘A’, while no definite comparison between Countries ‘B’ and ‘C’ can be made from the information given.
Explanation:
The IHDI adjusts the HDI for inequality in the distribution of achievements across health, education, and income. Therefore, a country with a similar or higher HDI can have a lower IHDI if inequality is greater. However, the information given is insufficient to determine the exact ranking between Countries ‘B’ and ‘C’.
Question 77: Which of the following statements regarding the Global Hunger Index (GHI) are correct? (1) Child stunting and child wasting capture different forms of child undernutrition. (2) The inclusion of undernourishment provides information about inadequate caloric intake in the population as a whole. (3) A higher GHI score indicates a better hunger situation. (4) Undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality contribute equally to the GHI score.
Correct Answer:
A
— Only 1 and 2
Explanation:
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Child stunting reflects chronic undernutrition, while child wasting reflects acute undernutrition. Undernourishment refers to inadequate caloric intake in the population as a whole. Statement 3 is incorrect because a lower GHI score indicates a better hunger situation, with 0 representing the best possible score and 100 the worst. Statement 4 is also incorrect because the four indicators do not have equal weights: undernourishment and child mortality each contribute one-third of the GHI score, while child stunting and child wasting each contribute one-sixth.
Question 78: If a country's average human development achievements improve rapidly, but the gains are concentrated disproportionately among higher-income groups, which of the following indices would best capture the resulting distributional loss in human development?
Correct Answer:
D
— Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index
Explanation:
The IHDI adjusts the HDI for inequality in the distribution of achievements across the population. Therefore, when average human development improves but the gains are distributed unequally, the IHDI can reveal a loss relative to the conventional HDI.
Question 79: Consider the following situation: A country's overall food availability is adequate, but low-income households have limited purchasing power, rural populations face difficulties in accessing markets, and the quality and nutritional diversity of available food are poor. Which of the following conclusions can be most appropriately drawn from the above situation?
Correct Answer:
A
— Adequate food availability alone is not sufficient to ensure food security.
Explanation:
Food security is broader than the physical availability of food. Economic access or affordability, physical availability, quality and safety, and longer-term sustainability are also important. Thus, adequate food availability alone cannot guarantee food security. The GFSI explicitly incorporates these broader dimensions.
Question 80: Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (1) Human Development Index — Average achievements in key dimensions of human development (2) Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index — Distributional inequality in human development achievements (3) Multidimensional Poverty Index — Multiple deprivations across health, education and standard of living (4) Global Hunger Index — Agricultural production of food grains
Correct Answer:
C
— Only 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correctly matched. The HDI measures average achievements in key dimensions of human development. The IHDI adjusts HDI for inequality in the distribution of those achievements, while the MPI captures multiple deprivations across health, education and standard of living. The GHI is not an index of food-grain production; it is based on undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality.
Question 81: Which of the following most appropriately describes the multidimensional approach of the Global Food Security Index (GFSI)?
Correct Answer:
D
— It considers affordability, availability, quality and safety, and sustainability and adaptation.
Explanation:
The GFSI adopts a multidimensional approach to food security. Its framework covers four major pillars: affordability; availability; quality and safety; and sustainability and adaptation. Therefore, food security is not treated merely as a question of food production or availability.
Question 82: Which of the following statements best describes the composition of the Global Hunger Index (GHI)?
Correct Answer:
B
— It combines population-level undernourishment with indicators of child undernutrition and child mortality.
Explanation:
The GHI is based on four component indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality. Thus, it combines a population-level measure of inadequate caloric intake with indicators reflecting child nutrition and mortality.
Question 83: Which of the following statements regarding the Global Hunger Index (GHI) are correct? (1) Undernourishment is an indicator that relates to the entire population, including both children and adults. (2) Child stunting reflects chronic undernutrition. (3) Child wasting reflects acute undernutrition. (4) Child mortality is a direct measure only of the quantity of food available to the population.
Correct Answer:
C
— Only 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Undernourishment refers to inadequate caloric intake in the population as a whole. Child stunting reflects chronic undernutrition, while child wasting reflects acute undernutrition. Child mortality is not a direct measure only of food availability; it reflects the severe consequences of undernutrition along with other factors, including unhealthy environmental conditions.
Question 84: In which of the following situations can two countries have the same incidence of multidimensional poverty but different Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) values?
Correct Answer:
A
— The proportion of the population that is multidimensionally poor is the same in both countries, but the average intensity of deprivation among the poor is different.
Explanation:
The MPI is calculated as the product of the incidence of multidimensional poverty and the intensity of deprivation. Therefore, if two countries have the same incidence but differ in the average intensity of deprivation experienced by their poor populations, their MPI values will also differ.
Question 85: Which of the following conclusions is most appropriate regarding the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI)?
Correct Answer:
B
— Two countries with the same average level of human development may have different IHDI values because of differences in the distribution of human development achievements.
Explanation:
The HDI reflects average achievements in health, education and standard of living, whereas the IHDI adjusts the HDI for inequality in the distribution of these achievements across the population. Therefore, two countries with the same HDI may have different IHDI values if the degree of inequality in their human development achievements differs. The IHDI equals the HDI only when there is no inequality across the relevant dimensions.
Question 86: With reference to the relationship between the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (1) The HDI measures average human development achievements. (2) The IHDI incorporates the effect of inequality in the distribution of these achievements. (3) In a situation of complete equality, the difference between the HDI and IHDI becomes maximum.
Correct Answer:
D
— 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct because the HDI summarizes average achievements in health, education, and standard of living. Statement 2 is also correct because the IHDI adjusts the HDI for inequality in the distribution of these achievements. Statement 3 is incorrect. Under complete equality, there is no inequality-related loss, so the IHDI is equal to the HDI. The difference between the two increases as inequality increases.
Question 87: If the number of multidimensionally poor people in a country decreases, but the average deprivation among those who remain poor remains approximately unchanged, which of the following changes is most likely?
Correct Answer:
C
— The incidence of multidimensional poverty may decrease, while its intensity may remain approximately unchanged.
Explanation:
The incidence of multidimensional poverty refers to the proportion of people who are multidimensionally poor. Therefore, a reduction in the number or proportion of poor people can reduce the incidence. The intensity refers to the average proportion of weighted deprivations experienced by multidimensionally poor people. If the average deprivation among those who remain poor remains approximately unchanged, the intensity may also remain broadly unchanged.
Question 88: To understand the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) in comparison with the Human Development Index (HDI), which of the following statements is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
B
— The HDI focuses on average human development achievements, whereas the MPI identifies overlapping deprivations experienced by people across multiple dimensions.
Explanation:
The HDI provides a summary measure of average achievements in health, education, and standard of living. The MPI, in contrast, focuses on poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon by identifying overlapping deprivations in areas such as health, education, and standard of living. Thus, the two indices serve different analytical purposes.
Question 89: Which of the following statements is correct regarding the Gender Inequality Index (GII)?
Correct Answer:
D
— A lower GII value indicates lower gender inequality.
Explanation:
The Gender Inequality Index measures gender inequalities in reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market. Its value ranges from 0 to 1, with lower values indicating lower gender inequality and a better situation in terms of gender equality.
Question 90: To understand the difference between the Gender Development Index (GDI) and the Gender Inequality Index (GII), which of the following statements is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
A
— The Gender Development Index focuses on the difference in human development achievements between women and men, whereas the Gender Inequality Index measures gender inequalities in reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market.
Explanation:
The Gender Development Index compares the levels of human development achieved by women and men using dimensions corresponding to the HDI. In contrast, the Gender Inequality Index captures gender inequality in reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market. Therefore, the two indices have different objectives, indicators, and methodologies.
Question 91: India’s National Multidimensional Poverty Index incorporates additional indicators in accordance with national priorities compared with the global Multidimensional Poverty Index framework. Which of the following pairs correctly represents these additional indicators?
Correct Answer:
C
— Maternal health and bank account
Explanation:
India’s National MPI incorporates two additional indicators—maternal health and bank account—along with the 10 indicators of the global MPI framework. Thus, India’s National MPI uses a total of 12 indicators.
Question 92: With regard to the structure of India’s National Multidimensional Poverty Index (National MPI), which of the following statements is correct?
Correct Answer:
B
— Health, education, and standard of living are the three dimensions, with each dimension assigned a weight of one-third.
Explanation:
India’s National Multidimensional Poverty Index is based on three dimensions—health, education, and standard of living. Each dimension carries a weight of one-third. The National MPI uses a total of 12 indicators across these three dimensions. Income is not treated as a separate fourth dimension.
Question 93: With reference to the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (1) It attempts to identify multiple deprivations experienced by people across different dimensions of poverty. (2) It identifies poverty solely on the basis of insufficient income. (3) Its methodology helps in understanding both the incidence and intensity of multidimensional poverty.
Correct Answer:
D
— 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct because the MPI considers deprivations across multiple dimensions rather than relying solely on income. Statement 2 is incorrect because multidimensional poverty is not identified exclusively through income deprivation. Statement 3 is correct because MPI analysis distinguishes between the incidence of poverty—the proportion of people who are multidimensionally poor—and the intensity of poverty—the average proportion of weighted deprivations experienced by multidimensionally poor people.
Question 94: The Human Development Index of two countries, ‘A’ and ‘B’, is the same. In country ‘A’, human development achievements are relatively evenly distributed, whereas in country ‘B’, the distribution of these achievements is more unequal. Which of the following conclusions is most appropriate in the context of the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI)?
Correct Answer:
A
— The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index of country ‘A’ may be higher than that of country ‘B’.
Explanation:
The HDI measures average achievements in health, education, and standard of living, whereas the IHDI adjusts these achievements for inequality in their distribution. Therefore, two countries with the same HDI can have different IHDI values. Greater inequality generally results in a larger loss from the HDI and hence a lower IHDI.
Question 95: Consider the following situation regarding a country: Per capita income is relatively high, life expectancy is relatively low, and mean years of schooling are also low. Based on the structure of the Human Development Index (HDI), which of the following conclusions is most appropriate?
Correct Answer:
C
— Despite high income, weak achievements in health and education can limit the country’s overall Human Development Index.
Explanation:
The Human Development Index is a summary measure of achievements in three dimensions—health, education, and a decent standard of living. Since the HDI combines these dimensions, strong performance in one dimension does not by itself ensure a high overall HDI. Therefore, despite relatively high income, weak achievements in health and education can limit the country’s HDI.
Question 96: What is meant by ‘intensity of poverty’ in the context of multidimensional poverty?
Correct Answer:
A
— The average proportion of weighted deprivations experienced by multidimensionally poor individuals
Explanation:
In multidimensional poverty measurement, the headcount ratio indicates the proportion of the population that is multidimensionally poor, whereas the intensity of poverty indicates the average proportion of weighted deprivations experienced by those who are multidimensionally poor. The MPI combines the incidence and intensity of multidimensional poverty.
Question 97: Which of the following statements is correct regarding India’s National Multidimensional Poverty Index?
Correct Answer:
C
— It includes twelve indicators under three equally weighted dimensions of health, education, and standard of living.
Explanation:
India’s National Multidimensional Poverty Index broadly follows the global MPI framework but includes twelve indicators under three dimensions—health, education, and standard of living. India retained ten indicators from the global MPI and added two indicators: maternal health under health and bank account under standard of living.
Question 98: Which of the following groups correctly represents the three major dimensions of the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index?
Correct Answer:
B
— Health, education, and standard of living
Explanation:
The Global MPI is based on three major dimensions: health, education, and standard of living. These dimensions are assessed through multiple weighted indicators representing overlapping deprivations.
Question 99: Which of the following statements is correct with reference to the basic concept of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)?
Correct Answer:
D
— It jointly considers multiple deprivations related to health, education, and standard of living.
Explanation:
The Multidimensional Poverty Index does not assess poverty solely in monetary terms. It identifies multiple, simultaneous deprivations across the dimensions of health, education, and standard of living. The Global MPI uses ten indicators distributed across these three dimensions.
Question 100: What is the main objective of the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI)?
Correct Answer:
C
— To adjust average achievements in human development for inequality in their distribution
Explanation:
The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index adjusts the HDI for inequality in the distribution of achievements across the population. As inequality increases, the IHDI becomes lower than the HDI. Under complete equality in the distribution of achievements, the IHDI and HDI would be equal.
Question 101: If two countries have the same Gross National Income per capita, but one country performs better than the other in health and education, what conclusion can be drawn in the context of the Human Development Index?
Correct Answer:
D
— The country with better health and education achievements may attain a higher Human Development Index.
Explanation:
The HDI is a composite index based on health, education, and standard of living. Therefore, two countries with the same GNI per capita can have different HDI values if their achievements in health and education differ. A country performing better in these dimensions may consequently have a higher HDI.
Question 102: Which of the following statements regarding the Human Development Index are correct? (1) The final index is prepared by combining its three dimension indices. (2) In the current methodology, the geometric mean of the dimension indices is used. (3) Very low achievement in one dimension can be completely offset by high achievement in another dimension.
Correct Answer:
D
— 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct because the HDI combines achievements in health, education, and standard of living. Statement 2 is correct because the current HDI methodology uses the geometric mean of the three dimension indices. Statement 3 is incorrect because the geometric mean limits the extent to which strong performance in one dimension can compensate for weak performance in another dimension.
Question 103: Which of the following is used to measure the standard of living dimension in the Human Development Index?
Correct Answer:
B
— Gross National Income per capita
Explanation:
Gross National Income (GNI) per capita is used to represent the standard of living dimension of the HDI. For international comparison, GNI per capita is expressed in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. The income indicator is expressed logarithmically to reflect the diminishing importance of income for human development as income levels rise.
Question 104: Which of the following indicators are used to measure the education dimension of the Human Development Index?
Correct Answer:
C
— Mean years of schooling for adults and expected years of schooling for children
Explanation:
The education dimension of the HDI is measured using two indicators: mean years of schooling, which reflects the average number of years of education received by adults, and expected years of schooling, which reflects the number of years of schooling a child of school-entry age can expect to receive.
Question 105: Which of the following statements regarding the Human Development Index (HDI) is correct?
Correct Answer:
C
— It jointly measures achievements related to health, education, and a decent standard of living.
Explanation:
The Human Development Index measures average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living. Income is incorporated through Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, but income alone does not represent human development.
Question 106: Assertion (A): In the Global Hunger Index, the overall hunger situation of a country can be fully assessed by looking only at the rate of undernourishment. Reason (R): The Global Hunger Index attempts to capture the multidimensional nature of hunger by combining four indicators.
Correct Answer:
D
— The Assertion is incorrect but the Reason is correct.
Explanation:
The Assertion is incorrect, whereas the Reason is correct. Undernourishment is only one of the four components of the GHI. The index also incorporates child stunting, child wasting and child mortality. Therefore, the overall hunger situation cannot be fully assessed by considering undernourishment alone.
Question 107: Assertion (A): Despite an increase in a country's Human Development Index, improvement in the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index may be relatively smaller. Reason (R): The conventional Human Development Index reflects changes in average achievements, whereas the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index also incorporates the effect of inequality in the distribution of achievements.
Correct Answer:
B
— Both are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
Explanation:
Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct, and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion. The HDI reflects average achievements in health, education and standard of living, whereas the IHDI adjusts these achievements for inequality in their distribution. Thus, even when average human development improves, inequality can reduce the extent of improvement reflected in the IHDI.
Question 108: Assertion (A): A high ranking in an index should not be considered complete evidence of policy achievement without understanding its methodology. Reason (R): Different indices may use different objectives, indicators, weights and measurement methodologies, and the position of the same country may therefore differ across different indices.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
Explanation:
Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct. An index measures only the dimensions and indicators incorporated into its methodology. Therefore, a country's ranking in one index cannot automatically be interpreted as a comprehensive assessment of its overall policy performance. Proper interpretation requires understanding the index's objectives, indicators, weighting and methodology.
Question 109: Assertion (A): If women's achievements improve in the Gender Inequality Index, the value of the index will necessarily decrease in the same proportion. Reason (R): The Gender Inequality Index jointly measures gender inequality across three dimensions.
Correct Answer:
C
— The Assertion is incorrect but the Reason is correct.
Explanation:
The Assertion is incorrect, whereas the Reason is correct. The GII measures gender-based disadvantage across three dimensions—reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. Therefore, an improvement in women's achievement in one indicator or dimension does not necessarily reduce the overall GII by the same proportion. The effect depends on the overall pattern of gender inequality across the dimensions included in the index.
Question 110: Assertion (A): A value of the Gender Inequality Index closer to zero indicates a better gender situation. Reason (R): In the Gender Inequality Index, zero represents equality between women and men in the measured dimensions, while inequality increases as the value approaches one.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
Explanation:
Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct. The Gender Inequality Index (GII) ranges from 0 to 1. A value of 0 represents equality between women and men in the measured dimensions, while a value closer to 1 indicates greater gender inequality. Therefore, a lower GII value represents better performance.
Question 111: Assertion (A): In the Global Hunger Index, the indicator of undernourishment reflects only the condition of children. Reason (R): The undernourishment indicator is related to inadequate calorie intake in the population as a whole, whereas the other three indicators are specifically related to children.
Correct Answer:
D
— The Assertion is incorrect but the Reason is correct.
Explanation:
The Assertion is incorrect, whereas the Reason is correct. In the GHI, undernourishment refers to the proportion of the population with insufficient caloric intake. In contrast, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality are indicators specifically related to children.
Question 112: Assertion (A): Keeping child stunting and child wasting separate in the Global Hunger Index is not merely a statistical duplication. Reason (R): Child stunting reflects chronic malnutrition, while child wasting reflects acute malnutrition.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
Explanation:
Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct. Child stunting, measured through low height-for-age, generally reflects chronic or long-term undernutrition, whereas child wasting, measured through low weight-for-height, generally reflects acute or recent undernutrition. Therefore, the two indicators capture distinct aspects of child nutritional status and are not redundant.
Question 113: Assertion (A): It is not appropriate to consider the Global Hunger Index as a complete and comprehensive index of food security. Reason (R): The Global Hunger Index primarily measures outcomes of hunger and undernutrition through undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality, whereas the concept of food security has a broader scope.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
Explanation:
Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct. The GHI combines four indicators—undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality—to measure multiple dimensions of hunger and undernutrition. However, food security is a broader concept involving dimensions such as food availability, access, utilization and stability. Therefore, the GHI should not be treated as a complete measure of food security.
Question 114: Assertion (A): Direct comparison of Global Hunger Index scores across different years is not always appropriate. Reason (R): The data and methodology of the index may be revised over time, due to which the published calculations for different years may not remain fully comparable.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
Explanation:
Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct. The Global Hunger Index methodology and the underlying data are periodically revised, which means that GHI scores published in different reports may not be directly comparable. In the 2025 GHI, the scores for 2000, 2008 and 2016 are specifically provided as comparable historical reference years with the 2025 score, whereas scores from earlier GHI reports should not be directly compared with the current results.
Question 115: Assertion (A): A lower score of a country in the Global Hunger Index indicates better nutrition and hunger conditions. Reason (R): In this index, zero represents the best possible situation, while the severity of hunger increases as the score increases.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
Explanation:
Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is measured on a 100-point scale, where 0 represents the best possible score and 100 the worst possible score. Thus, a lower GHI score indicates a better hunger situation, while a higher score indicates greater hunger severity.
Question 116: Assertion (A): Even when a composite development index improves, the need for policy intervention may still remain. Reason (R): A composite index summarizes a complex social reality through a limited set of indicators and therefore cannot fully capture all local, regional or group-specific differences.
Correct Answer:
D
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are correct, and R correctly explains A. Composite indices are useful for summarizing broad patterns of development, but they cannot capture every aspect of social and economic conditions. Therefore, even when an index improves, policymakers may need to address persistent regional, social or group-specific deficiencies.
Question 117: Assertion (A): A country's Human Development Index ranking and its multidimensional poverty status do not necessarily have a perfectly inverse relationship. Reason (R): The Human Development Index measures average achievements, whereas the Multidimensional Poverty Index focuses on deprivation across multiple dimensions among disadvantaged populations.
Correct Answer:
D
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are correct, and R explains A. The HDI summarizes average achievement in key dimensions of human development, whereas the MPI identifies and measures multidimensional deprivation among poor populations. Consequently, a country can have relatively high average human development while still experiencing significant multidimensional poverty among particular groups or regions.
Question 118: Assertion (A): In the Global Hunger Index, child stunting and child wasting are treated as separate indicators. Reason (R): Stunting and wasting represent different aspects of child undernutrition and differ in their temporal characteristics.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are correct. Child stunting refers to low height-for-age and generally reflects chronic or long-term undernutrition, while child wasting refers to low weight-for-height and is more closely associated with acute or recent undernutrition. Thus, they capture different aspects of nutritional deprivation and are treated separately in the Global Hunger Index.
Question 119: Assertion (A): In the Multidimensional Poverty Index, a person is not automatically identified as multidimensionally poor merely because they experience deprivation in one indicator. Reason (R): Identification of multidimensional poverty is based on the weighted combination of deprivations across multiple indicators and a predetermined poverty cutoff.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are correct. In the global Multidimensional Poverty Index methodology, a person is identified as multidimensionally poor when the weighted sum of their deprivations reaches or exceeds the specified poverty cutoff. Therefore, deprivation in only one indicator does not automatically make a person multidimensionally poor.
Question 120: Assertion (A): An increase in food availability in a country may not lead to the expected improvement in food security. Reason (R): Food security depends not only on the availability of food but also on factors such as access, affordability, utilization and stability.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are correct. Food security is multidimensional. Adequate food availability alone does not ensure food security if people cannot afford or physically access food, cannot utilize it adequately because of nutritional or health-related constraints, or face instability in access over time. Therefore, an increase in food availability does not necessarily guarantee improved food security.
Question 121: Assertion (A): The Gender Development Index and the Gender Inequality Index should not be considered identical measures of gender-related development and inequality. Reason (R): The Gender Development Index compares female and male achievements in the three dimensions of human development, whereas the Gender Inequality Index measures gender-based disadvantage across reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market.
Correct Answer:
B
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are correct. The Gender Development Index measures gender gaps in human development by comparing female and male achievements in health, education and command over economic resources. In contrast, the Gender Inequality Index captures gender disadvantage through reproductive health, empowerment and labour-market dimensions. Hence, the two indices have different purposes and methodologies.
Question 122: Assertion (A): An improvement in the Human Development Index does not necessarily imply that the condition of every group associated with human development has improved equally in a country. Reason (R): The Human Development Index is a composite measure of average achievement and does not directly capture inequalities in the internal distribution of those achievements.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are correct. The Human Development Index summarizes average achievement in key dimensions of human development. It does not directly show how these achievements are distributed among different groups within a country. Therefore, an increase in the HDI does not necessarily mean that all groups have experienced an equal improvement.
Question 123: Assertion (A): The Global Hunger Index and the Global Food Security Index are not identical indices, even though both are related to food and nutrition. Reason (R): The two indices differ in their objectives, methodologies and sets of indicators used to assess hunger or food security.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are correct. The Global Hunger Index focuses specifically on hunger and undernutrition, using indicators related to undernourishment and child nutritional status. The Global Food Security Index takes a broader approach to food security, covering dimensions such as affordability, availability, quality and safety, and sustainability and adaptation. Therefore, the two indices should not be treated as identical measures.
Question 124: Assertion (A): Two countries can have the same prevalence of multidimensional poverty but different Multidimensional Poverty Index values. Reason (R): The Multidimensional Poverty Index considers both the proportion of people who are multidimensionally poor and the average intensity of deprivation among them.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are correct. The prevalence or headcount ratio indicates the proportion of people who are multidimensionally poor, whereas the intensity reflects the average proportion of weighted deprivations experienced by poor people. Since the MPI combines these dimensions, two countries with the same proportion of poor people can have different MPI values if the intensity of deprivation differs.
Question 125: Assertion (A): The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index can be lower than a country's regular Human Development Index, even when the country's average human development achievements are high. Reason (R): The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index reflects not only average achievements but also the loss resulting from inequality in the distribution of those achievements.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are correct. The regular Human Development Index measures average achievements in health, education and standard of living. The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index adjusts these achievements for inequality in their distribution. Therefore, even a country with high average human development can have a lower inequality-adjusted value when its achievements are distributed unequally.
Question 126: Assertion (A): The closer the value of the Gender Development Index is to one, the smaller the difference between the human development achievements of women and men. Reason (R): The Gender Development Index is based on the ratio of the Human Development Index values of women and men.
Correct Answer:
C
— Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
Explanation:
The Gender Development Index (GDI) measures gender differences in human development achievements by comparing the Human Development Index (HDI) values of women and men. Since the GDI is based on the ratio of female to male HDI, a value closer to one indicates a smaller difference in human development achievements between women and men. Therefore, the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.
Question 127: Assertion (A): Sustainable development can be evaluated solely on the basis of current economic growth. Reason (R): Sustainable development emphasizes a balance among economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
Correct Answer:
B
— A is incorrect, but R is correct.
Explanation:
The Assertion is incorrect because sustainable development cannot be assessed solely on the basis of current economic growth. It also requires consideration of social well-being, equity, and environmental sustainability. The Reason is correct because sustainable development seeks to integrate economic, social, and environmental considerations.
Question 128: Assertion (A): Food insecurity can exist in a country even when the overall availability of food is high. Reason (R): Food security depends not only on the availability of food but also on people's access to adequate food and the ability to utilize it, with stability of these conditions over time.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
The Assertion is correct because adequate national food availability does not necessarily ensure that every individual or household can obtain sufficient and nutritious food. Food security involves dimensions such as availability, access, utilization, and stability. Therefore, the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.
Question 129: Assertion (A): The Gender Inequality Index measures only the difference in income between women and men. Reason (R): It also takes into account gender inequalities related to reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market.
Correct Answer:
D
— A is incorrect, but R is correct.
Explanation:
The Assertion is incorrect because the Gender Inequality Index (GII) is not limited to income differences. It captures gender inequality across three major dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market. Therefore, the Reason is correct.
Question 130: Assertion (A): The Gender Development Index compares the human development achievements of women and men. Reason (R): Its objective is only to measure the economic status of women independently of human development.
Correct Answer:
A
— A is correct, but R is incorrect.
Explanation:
The Assertion is correct. The Gender Development Index (GDI) compares female and male achievements in the three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and command over economic resources. The Reason is incorrect because the GDI is not limited to measuring the economic status of women.
Question 131: Assertion (A): The incidence and intensity of multidimensional poverty express the same concept. Reason (R): Incidence indicates the proportion of people who are multidimensionally poor, whereas intensity reflects the average proportion of weighted deprivations experienced by multidimensionally poor people.
Correct Answer:
D
— A is incorrect, but R is correct.
Explanation:
The Assertion is incorrect because incidence and intensity measure different aspects of multidimensional poverty. Incidence refers to the proportion of the population that is multidimensionally poor, while intensity refers to the average proportion of weighted deprivations experienced by multidimensionally poor people. Thus, the Reason is correct.
Question 132: Assertion (A): Two households with the same income can still experience different levels of multidimensional poverty. Reason (R): Multidimensional poverty is assessed by considering multiple deprivations rather than income alone.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
The Assertion is correct because households with similar incomes may differ significantly in areas such as nutrition, schooling, sanitation, housing, drinking water, or access to basic services. The Reason correctly explains why income alone cannot capture all aspects of multidimensional poverty.
Question 133: Assertion (A): The Multidimensional Poverty Index can be used as a complement to monetary measures of poverty. Reason (R): Poverty is not limited to a lack of income but may also involve multiple deprivations in areas such as health, education, and living standards.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
The Assertion is correct because the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) provides information on deprivations that may not be captured by monetary poverty measures. The Reason correctly explains this approach. The global MPI considers deprivations across dimensions such as health, education, and standard of living.
Question 134: Assertion (A): The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index is generally not higher than the Human Development Index. Reason (R): The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index takes into account inequality in the distribution of human development achievements.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
The Assertion is correct. The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) adjusts the average level of human development for inequality in the distribution of achievements. Therefore, the IHDI is generally lower than the HDI when inequality exists. In a situation of complete equality, the IHDI and HDI are equal.
Question 135: Assertion (A): Two countries with the same Human Development Index need not have the same levels of achievement in all the dimensions of human development. Reason (R): The Human Development Index combines achievements across multiple dimensions into a single composite value.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
The Assertion is correct because two countries can have the same or very similar composite HDI values while having different levels of achievement in health, education, and standard of living. The Reason correctly explains this because HDI combines achievements across multiple dimensions into a single composite measure.
Question 136: Assertion (A): The Human Development Index does not measure only the economic prosperity of a country. Reason (R): The Human Development Index incorporates achievements related to health, education, and standard of living.
Correct Answer:
A
— Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
The Assertion is correct because the Human Development Index (HDI) is not based solely on income or economic prosperity. The Reason is also correct and directly explains the Assertion. HDI measures achievement in three broad dimensions: a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living.