The Human Truth Foundation

India (Republic of India)

https://www.humantruth.info/india.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#china #india

India
Republic of India
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index99th best
CapitalNew Delhi
Land Area2 973 190km21
LocationAsia
Population1.4b2
Life Expectancy67.24yrs (2017)3
GNI$6 590 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesIN, IND, 3565
Internet Domain.in6
CurrencyRupee (INR)7
Telephone+918

1. Overview

#india #pakistan

Ninety years of British rule of India from 1858 came to an end in 1947, after several years of commendably peaceful resistance9 led by Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru10.

Large-scale communal violence took place before and after the subcontinent partition into two separate states - India and Pakistan. [...] India's nuclear weapons tests in 1998 emboldened Pakistan to conduct its own tests that same year. In November 2008, terrorists originating from Pakistan conducted a series of coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India's financial capital. Despite pressing problems such as significant overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and widespread corruption, economic growth following the launch of economic reforms in 1991 and a massive youthful population are driving India's emergence as a regional and global power.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)10

Book CoverIndia bristles with a mind-stirring mix of landscapes and cultural traditions. Your journey through this intoxicating country will blaze in your memory long after you´ve left its shores. From the snow-dusted mountains of the far north to the sun-washed beaches of the deep south, India´s dramatic terrain is breathtaking. Along with abundant natural beauties, exquisitely carved temples rise out of deserts and crumbling old fortresses peer over plunging ravines. Aficionados of the great outdoors can scout for big jungle cats on wildlife safaris, paddle in the waters of one of many beautiful beaches, take blood-pumping treks high in the Himalaya, or simply inhale pine-scented air on meditative forest walks. [...]

The multitude of sacred sites and time-honoured rituals are testament to the country´s long, colourful and sometimes tumultuous religious history. And then there are the festivals! India hosts some of the world´s most spectacular devotional celebrations - from city parades celebrating auspicious events on the religious calendar to simple harvest fairs that pay homage to a locally worshipped deity.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)11

2. India National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)12
Pos.Higher is better
Value12
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
129Bangladesh0.661
130Tuvalu0.641
131Marshall Islands0.639
132India0.633
133Ghana0.632
134Micronesia0.628
135Guatemala0.627
136Kiribati0.624
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)12
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $12
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
124Swaziland$7 679
125Morocco$7 303
126Tonga$6 822
127India$6 590
128Palestine$6 583
129Tuvalu$6 351
130Belize$6 309
131Cape Verde$6 230
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank13
1Norway29.8
2Denmark30.0
3Finland33.7
...
96Kazakhstan87.2
97Uzbekistan87.7
98Cape Verde87.8
99India88.2
100Oman89.6
101Lebanon90.0
102St Vincent & Grenadines90.2
103Bahamas90.5
Asia Avg88.2
World Avg87.9
q=196.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. India's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

India's population is predicted to rise to 1 523.48 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 2.55. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
6Brazil209.5m
7Nigeria195.9m
8Bangladesh161.4m
9Russia145.7m
10Japan127.2m
11Mexico126.2m
12Ethiopia109.2m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
12
Pos.2021
Years12
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
134Sao Tome & Principe67.6
135Indonesia67.6
136Kiribati67.4
137India67.2
138Fiji67.1
139Senegal67.1
140Eritrea66.5
141Tanzania66.2
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.201314
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
90Cyprus1.46
91Moldova1.46
92Cuba1.45
93India2.55
94Germany1.44
95Laos2.58
96Malaysia2.58
97Hungary1.42
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
85Kyrgyzstan12.1
86Indonesia12.4
87=Myanmar (Burma)12.5
87=India12.5
89Bolivia12.7
90Nicaragua13.1
91Paraguay13.2
92Iran13.4
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.2017
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
174Honduras0.4%
175Solomon Islands0.4%
176Papua New Guinea0.4%
177India0.4%
178Afghanistan0.4%
179Haiti0.4%
180Brazil0.4%
181Eritrea0.3%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants17
Pos.2010
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
174Indonesia1.1%
175Myanmar (Burma)1.0%
176Solomon Islands1.0%
177India0.9%
178Papua New Guinea0.9%
179USA0.8%
180Namibia0.7%
181Ethiopia0.7%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#antisemitism #blasphemy #equality #free_speech #gender_equality #hinduism_extremism #human_rights #india #india_antisemitism #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
110Gabon95.2
111Benin95.7
112Tanzania95.7
113India96.8
114Cuba97.4
115Kazakhstan97.8
Asia Avg99.9
World Avg87.9
q=199.
India is very poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world, and it has cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. India does better than average in terms of its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice19, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports20, speed of uptake of HR treaties21 and in freethought22. It's astounding that in a country of its size, just 1% of the population holds 21.3% of the country's entire income23. But those in power aren't malevolently rich and powerful; Supreme court rulings in 2017 strengthened fundamental human rights in general, for women in particular, and increased the accountability of security forces; it also accepted the right to privacy and improved India's stance on free speech and the rule of law.24 Also in 2017, the court outlawed "triple talaq" which allowed Muslim men to unilaterally divorce their wives with no warning24. But, things could still be better. India does worse than average when it comes to supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms25, opposing gender inequality26, LGBT equality27, supporting press freedom28 and in its nominal commitment to Human Rights29. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)30. The constitution gives some protections for freedom of religion but some states and some laws create restrictions that create unfair legal prejudices towards, or against, certain religious groups31,32 and Hindu extremism has become 'an impediment to the exercise and enjoyment of internationally recognized human rights'33. Abuses committed by security forces persisted including allegations of torture, extrajudicial killings, notably in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, and Jammu and Kashmir24.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. India's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)34
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank34
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
...
22Armenia78.4
23Cyprus78.6
24Myanmar (Burma)79.1
25India79.6
26Nepal80.3
27=Israel82.1
28Turkmenistan83.1
29=Tajikistan83.1
30Turkey84.5
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)34
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank34
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
43Cyprus78.6
44Malta78.9
45Myanmar (Burma)79.1
46India79.6
47Slovenia79.9
48Tunisia80.1
49Nepal80.3
50Hungary80.9
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives35. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau35.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean35, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa35.

For more, see:

Health:

India does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. India does better than average when it comes to its smoking rate36 (one of the best in Asia), its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance37, its adolescent birth rate26 and in its alcohol consumption rate38 (but high for Asia). But, things could still be better. India does worse than average in its suicide rate39, its fertility rate14, its average life expectancy12 and in its immunizations take-up40. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in India improved by +12.3yrs in the 30 years from 1990, much better than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
12
Pos.2021
Years12
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
134Sao Tome & Principe67.6
135Indonesia67.6
136Kiribati67.4
137India67.2
138Fiji67.1
139Senegal67.1
140Eritrea66.5
141Tanzania66.2
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
38
Pos.2016
Per Capita38
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
84Armenia5.5
85Venezuela5.6
86=Sierra Leone5.7
86=India5.7
86=Cape Verde5.7
89Liberia5.8
90=Haiti5.8
90=Colombia5.8
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.201314
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
90Cyprus1.46
91Moldova1.46
92Cuba1.45
93India2.55
94Germany1.44
95Laos2.58
96Malaysia2.58
97Hungary1.42
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
36
Pos.201436
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
21Liberia 104
22Niger 105
23Sao Tome & Principe 111
24India 111
25Eritrea 114
26Haiti 114
27Peru 116
28Somalia 117
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate39
Pos.2013
Per 100k39
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
...
48Luxembourg19.3
49Portugal19.6
50Singapore20.6
51India20.8
52Trinidad & Tobago21.7
53USA22.2
54Chile22.4
55Canada22.7
Asia Avg19.50
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
32Bangladesh32
33Hungary33
34Macedonia34
35India35
36Fiji36
37Thailand37
38Pakistan38
39Portugal39
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
41
Pos.2016
%41
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
6Timor-Leste (E. Timor)21.6
7Cambodia21.7
8=Niger22.0
8=Eritrea22.0
10Burundi22.2
11Uganda22.4
12Afghanistan23.0
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
26
Pos.2015
Per 100026
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
71Russia23.4
72New Zealand23.6
73Ukraine24.1
74India24.5
75Samoa25.0
76Rwanda26.3
77Iran26.7
78Turkey27.6
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
40
Pos.2015
Avg %40
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
168Timor-Leste (E. Timor)76.5
169Indonesia76.4
170Mali76.0
171India75.1
172Ethiopia73.9
173Pakistan73.0
174Liberia72.6
175S. Africa72.5
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. India's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #food #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2023)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Sri Lanka49.0
...
7Indonesia62.4
8S. Korea62.8
9Bangladesh67.0
10=India68.6
11Lebanon68.8
12=Nepal68.8
13Armenia69.5
14=Singapore69.5
15Malaysia74.4
Asia Avg88.8
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
47Brazil66.8
48Bangladesh67.0
49Finland67.4
50=India68.6
50=Hungary68.6
52Lebanon68.8
53=Nepal68.8
54Nigeria69.2
World Avg85.7
q=188.
India ranks 50th in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. India comes in the best 20 in annual meat consumption per person43 (one of the best in Asia). It does better than average for its forested percent change 2000-202044, how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity and in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population45. But, things still need to improve in India. India does worse than average when it comes to its score on the Green Future Index46 and in energy to GDP efficiency47. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in its environmental performance48 (one of the worst in Asia).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
44
Pos.Total44
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
41UK7.8%
42Martinique7.2%
43Hungary6.8%
44India6.7%
45Costa Rica6.2%
46Switzerland6.0%
47Belarus5.9%
48Latvia5.2%
Asia Avg3.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.

India restored 3% of its forest cover during the 2000s, and a further 4% during the 2010s. Although as a relative percent this was small, in absolute terms it recovered 2664 thousand hectares, which was 3rd-highest amount in the world and a commendable effort, although still eight times less than equally-populated China.

Environmental Performance
Higher is better
48
Pos.201848
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
173Lesotho33.8
174Haiti33.7
175Madagascar33.7
176Nepal31.4
177India30.6
178Congo, DR30.4
179Bangladesh29.6
180Burundi27.4
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Higher is better47
Pos.201447
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
...
62Sweden08.62
63=Belgium08.47
63=Guatemala08.47
65India08.40
66Cameroon08.33
67Australia08.20
68UAE08.13
69=Jamaica08.06
Asia Avg09.14
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
44Albania1994 Apr 05
45Malawi1994 May 03
46Samoa1994 May 10
47India1994 May 19
48=Paraguay1994 May 25
48=Hungary1994 May 25
50Brazil1994 May 29
51Cuba1994 Jun 06
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better45
Pos.2011
%45
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
61Singapore41.6%
62Ukraine41.5%
63Jordan41.4%
64India41.2%
65Canada41.2%
66Serbia41.1%
67Ghana40.4%
68Moldova40.4%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
43
Pos.2021
kg43
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
4Madagascar05.4
5India05.7
6Nigeria07.0
7Ethiopia07.1
8Rwanda07.6
9Mali07.8
10Niger08.1
11Afghanistan08.7
12Uganda09.4
Asia Avg46.7
World Avg52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, India had the 4th-lowest meat consumption per person in the world.43

Green Future Index
Higher is better
46
Pos.2023
Score46
1Iceland6.7
2Finland6.7
3Norway6.4
...
47Ukraine4.4
48Argentina4.3
49Indonesia4.3
50India4.3
51Nigeria4.2
52Ecuador4.1
53=Kazakhstan4.1
53=Vietnam4.1
Asia Avg4.3
World Avg4.8
q=76.

7. India's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)49
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank49
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3=S. Korea24.0
...
21Iran71.7
22Kyrgyzstan71.8
23Thailand72.9
24India73.8
25=Qatar75.5
26Bahrain75.6
27Kuwait77.6
28Sri Lanka79.6
29Jordan81.1
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity & Learning (2020)49
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank49
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
85Albania72.4
86Thailand72.9
87Tunisia73.4
88India73.8
89Andorra74.5
90Tonga75.2
91=New Caledonia75.5
91=Qatar75.5
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2950
2Israel4.1150
3Japan3.5850
...
37=Slovakia0.8950
37=Malta0.8951
39Greece0.8450
40India0.8252
41Croatia0.8151
42Kenya0.7953
43Ukraine0.7651
44=Morocco0.7353
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
54
Pos.201854
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
106Colombia52.0%
107Ecuador51.9%
108Tunisia51.8%
109India51.6%
110Kuwait51.5%
111Congo, DR50.7%
112Macedonia49.8%
113Indonesia48.8%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
55
Pos.2021
Years55
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
138Lesotho12.0
139Namibia11.9
140Comoros11.9
141India11.9
142Kiribati11.8
143Nauru11.7
144Tajikistan11.7
145Micronesia11.5
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.

The BJP, a conservative Hindu-first party made popular by its campaigns of hate against minorities in India, have pursued a policy of establishing astrological departments at universities (the last place they belong, perhaps after hospitals!)56, despite academia's longstanding aversion due to the overwhelming evidence that astrology is not founded on any kind of reality. In an unequal nation of 1.4 billion people, the extra funding spent on this campaign (which has included funding posts at universities) could have provided for a large number of teachers, covering sorely-needed topics of maths, the sciences and engineering.

Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
64Samoa64
65Jordan65
66Namibia66
67India67
68Lebanon68
69Senegal69
70China70
71Burundi71
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Religiosity
Lower is better
57
Pos.2018
%57
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
72=Iran78
72=Tunisia78
74Bangladesh80
75=India80
76Iraq82
77=El Salvador85
77=Jordan85
79Palestine86
Asia Avg55.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better58
Pos.200658
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
89=Tunisia83
89=Oman83
89=Syria83
92India82
93=Bangladesh82
93=Lebanon82
93=Dominican Rep.82
93=Madagascar82
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
59
Pos.201659
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
124El Salvador38%
125Bhutan37%
126Mongolia36%
127India35%
128Kyrgyzstan34%
129Egypt33%
130Cuba32%
131Micronesia31%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
Freedom On The Internet
Lower is better
60
Pos.201260
1Estonia10
2USA12
3Germany15
...
17=Uganda34
18Kyrgyzstan35
19Mexico37
20India39
21Indonesia42
22=Libya43
22=Malaysia43
24Jordan45
Asia Avg56.6
World Avg46.7
q=47.
IT Security
Lower is better
61
Pos.201361
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
...
74Sri Lanka1.67
75Oman1.72
76Iraq1.84
77Bangladesh1.87
78Sudan1.98
79India2.10
80Russia2.42
81USA3.68
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
62
Pos.2017
Ratio62
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
6Luxembourg32.4
7India26.8
8Portugal26.6
9Ireland26.1
10UK24.7
11Japan22.1
12France18.8
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

World Giving Index
Higher is better
63
Pos.2022
%63
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
63=Uruguay40.0
63=Turkey40.0
63=Hungary40.0
63=India40.0
63=Cyprus40.0
68Malawi39.0
69=Slovenia39.0
69=Burkina Faso39.0
Asia Avg37.9
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
64
Pos.2022
Points64
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
86Suriname40.0
87=Macedonia40.0
87=Maldives40.0
87=India40.0
87=Guyana40.0
91Belarus39.0
92=Moldova39.0
92=Colombia39.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness
Higher is better
65
Pos.2018
Score65
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
130Myanmar (Burma)4.3
131Chad4.3
132Congo, DR4.2
133India4.2
134Niger4.2
135Uganda4.2
136Benin4.1
137Sudan4.1
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
54Thailand54
55Macedonia55
56Mauritania56
57India57
58Philippines58
59Uruguay59
60Samoa60
61Montenegro61
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
146Jamaica146
147Syria147
148Iran148
149India149
150Cameroon150
151Suriname151
152Gabon152
153Iraq153
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
66
Pos.2023
Score66
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
123Nicaragua2.29
124=Uganda2.30
124=Zimbabwe2.30
126India2.31
127Guinea2.36
128Burundi2.39
129Haiti2.40
130S. Africa2.41
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
29Rwanda29
30Paraguay30
31Jordan31
32India32
33New Zealand33
34Malaysia34
35S. Korea35
36Qatar36
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
37
Pos.2017
Rank37
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
86Jamaica86
87Nicaragua87
88Niger88
89India89
90Cameroon90
91Venezuela91
92Belarus92
93Ghana93
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
67
Pos.2019
Score67
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
141Congo, DR7.04
142Philippines7.14
143Yemen7.26
144India7.52
145Somalia7.80
146Pakistan7.89
147Syria8.01
148Nigeria8.60
Asia Avg3.60
World Avg2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better68
Pos.201968
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
128S. Africa19.20
129Botswana19.40
130Rwanda19.50
131India19.70
132Madagascar21.10
133Senegal21.20
134Eritrea21.40
135Timor-Leste (E. Timor)21.70
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
69
Pos.2017
%69
1Ukraine25.0
2=Belarus25.4
2=Slovenia25.4
...
61Italy35.4
62Portugal35.5
63Macedonia35.6
64India35.7
65=Australia35.8
65=Mauritius35.8
67Romania35.9
68=Gambia35.9
Asia Avg35.2
World Avg38.1
q=152.
Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
70
Pos.2018
Severity70
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
50Bolivia.094
51Laos.108
52Congo, (Brazzaville).112
53India.123
54Guatemala.134
55Zimbabwe.137
56Ghana.138
57Lesotho.146
Asia Avg.084
World Avg.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#blasphemy #buddhism #christianity #free_speech #hinduism #hinduism_extremism #india #india_religion #islam #new_age #pakistan #religion_in_india #religious_conflict #sikhism

Religious life in India is rich and diverse11, with traditions dating back into prehistory71. The population of India is Hindu (79.5%), Muslim (14.4%) and Christian (2.5%)72 and 80% of the population say that religion is important to them73. Only 3% don't believe in god(s)73. Belief in heaven and hell is at 20%74. Hinduism was originally a wildly varied mix of traditional local beliefs and practices which only became grouped as "Hinduism" due to Western powers' simplistic descriptions75. In addition to Hinduism, a number of religions and movements have begun in India, including Buddhism and Sikhism76. From the 1960s, Western spiritualists took home some interpretations of Hindu beliefs and the result was the range of small movements called the New Age.

Religion in India is no longer a peaceful affair. The Hindutva movement has seen the rise of intolerant right-wing Hinduism-first parties encourage and instigate a long and bloody series of mob conflicts with Christian and Muslim communities77,33,78, which has seen many hundreds of churches and mosques destroyed, and a great number killed and displaced. Incompatibility between Hinduism and Islam lead to the breakoff of Pakistan amidst fighting that saw over a million people lose their lives9, and, three subsequent wars and a nuclear arms race, with the disputed territory of Kashmir as the flashpoint. During this cultural and religious conflict, Hindu extremism has become "an impediment to... human rights"33.

For more, see:

India's constitution gives some protections for freedom of belief and religion31,32, however, some states and some laws create restrictions that create unfair legal prejudices towards, or against, certain religious groups31,32. The 'Hindutva' movement seeks to place "Hinduism first" and is responsible for stoking intolerance and Hindu extremism79. There is a steady stream of violent events between Muslim, Hindu and Christian communities. In 2017, vigilante violence aimed at religious minorities, marginalized communities, and critics of the government–often carried out by groups claiming to support the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)–became an increasing threat"24. Section 295 of Indian Penal Code allows convictions for intentionally causing offense, which is frequently abused by religious communities in a way that prevents free speech and intellectual criticism, in the same manner that blasphemy laws come to be used elsewhere too.31. Hindu extremism has become 'an impediment to the exercise and enjoyment of internationally recognized human rights'33.

For more, see:

12. History

#bangladesh #india #pakistan

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the world's oldest, flourished during the 3rd and 2nd millennia B.C. and extended into northwestern India. Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated the Indian subcontinent about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. The Maurya Empire of the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. - which reached its zenith under ASHOKA - united much of South Asia. The Golden Age ushered in by the Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries A.D.) saw a flowering of Indian science, art, and culture. Islam spread across the subcontinent over a period of 700 years. In the 10th and 11th centuries, Turks and Afghans invaded India and established the Delhi Sultanate. In the early 16th century, the Emperor BABUR established the Mughal Dynasty which ruled India for more than three centuries. European explorers began establishing footholds in India during the 16th century. By the 19th century, Great Britain had become the dominant political power on the subcontinent. The British Indian Army played a vital role in both World Wars. Years of nonviolent resistance to British rule, led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU, eventually resulted in Indian independence, which was granted in 1947. Large-scale communal violence took place before and after the subcontinent partition into two separate states - India and Pakistan. The neighboring nations have fought three wars since independence, the last of which was in 1971 and resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. India's nuclear weapons tests in 1998 emboldened Pakistan to conduct its own tests that same year.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)80