India Ranked 131 on Human Development Index
- India has ranked a lowly 131 among the 188 countries surveyed for human development, according a new UN report on March 21, 2017. India’s Human Development Index (HDI) rank in 2014 was also 131. India’s HDI rank value in 2015 stood at 0.624, which had increased from 0.580 in 2010.
- Its life expectancy at birth stood at 68.3 years in 2015 and the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita $ 5663.
- Women and girls are systematically excluded by economic, political, social and cultural barriers, according to the report measured by the Human Development Index —a ranking of countries based on strides made with a peace-centric model of progress.
- Whilej, Norway ranked No.l. Between 1990 and 2015, India’s life expectancy at birth increased by 10.4 years, mean years of schooling increased by 3.3 years and expected years of schooling increased by 4.1 years.
World Happiness Report 2017 Released
- The World Happiness Report 2017 was released on March 20, 2017 according to which Norway is the ‘happiest country in the world. Norway displaced three time winner Denmark to bag the top honours.
- Denmark dropped to second place this year, followed by Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and Sweden (which tied for ninth place), according to the latest World Happiness Report.
- According to the report, one of the key measurements is the real gross domestic product per capita. The rankings are made on the basis of income, life expectancy, how people rate social support, personal freedom, freedom from corruption and generosity.
- The report also takes into account factors like inequality, GDP per capita, public trust, i.e., a lack of corruption in government and business, etc.
- India ranked at 122 and was the least happy country among the SAARC nations. It dropped four slots from last year.
- Among the SAARC nations Pakistan was ranked at BOth position, Nepal stood at 99, Bhutan at 97, Bangladesh at 110 while Sri Lanka was at 120.
The Times Asia University Ranking 2017 Released
- In a ranking where universities from Singapore, China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan topped, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and 1IT, Bombay fared well in the Times Higher Education’s Asia University Rankings 2017 on March 15, 2017.
- IISc -Bangalore was ranked in the 27th place while IIT Bombay secured 42nd rank.
- Apart from IISc-Banglore and IIT- Bombay, Veltech University, Chennai has also found its place in top 50. According to this ranking. The National University of Singapore is the top institution in Asia for the second year in a row.
- The most-represented nation in the rankings is Japan, with 69 institutions followed by China with 54 institutions.
India has Highest Bribery Rate among 16 Asia Pacific Countries Transparency International
- India had the highest bribery rate among the 16 Asia Pacific countries surveyed by Transparency International. Neatly seven in 10 Indians who had accessed public services had paid a bribe on March 7, 2017.
- India was followed closely by Vietnam where around two thirds (65%) had paid a bribe when accessing public services.
- For the purpose of this survey, TI concentrated on bribes paid for procuring six key public services viz public schools, public hospitals, official documents (such as identification card, voters card), public utility services, the police and courts.
Third Meeting of G-20 Framework Working Group Held at Varanasi
- The 3rd G-20 Framework Working Group (FWG) Meeting under the G-20 German Presidency co-hosted by Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, government of India and Reserve Bank of Indio (RBI) in Varanasi on March 28 and 29, 2017.
- The G-20 FWG will discuss the current global economic situation as well as deliberate on the policy Options that countries can pursue to counter the important development challenges.
- One Important focus of this meeting will be to.deliberate on the inclusive growth agenda of G-20 and to formulate a framework that will enable countries to help frame country specific inclusive growth policies.
- The G-20 is the group of 19 countries and European Union (EU) deliberating on global economic issues and other important development challenges. G-20 Framework Working Group (FWG) is one of the core working groups of G-20.
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