The Human Development Index was created by:
(A) Mehbub-ul-Haq and Meghnad Desai.
(B) Mohammed Yunus and Amartya Sen.
(C) Amartya Sen and Mehbub-ul-Haq.
(D) Manmohan Singh and Keith Griffin.
Correct Ans: (C)
Explanation:
The Human Development Index (HDI) was introduced as a revolutionary way to measure a country’s progress—not just by economic output but by how well people live. The two key figures behind this concept were Amartya Sen, an Indian economist and philosopher, and Mehbub-ul-Haq, a Pakistani economist and policymaker.
In 1990, under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mehbub-ul-Haq led the creation of the HDI with deep theoretical input from Sen. Their goal was to shift global attention away from narrow economic metrics like GDP and instead focus on human well-being. They believed that development should empower people by improving three core areas: health (life expectancy), education (years of schooling), and standard of living (income).
This index changed how governments, NGOs, and policymakers approached progress. It pushed the idea that economic growth means little if people still lack access to quality healthcare, education, and a decent standard of life. HDI introduced a more holistic and humane way to understand global development.
Now, let’s eliminate the incorrect options.
(A) Mehbub-ul-Haq and Meghnad Desai – Haq is correct, but Desai was not involved in creating HDI.
(B) Mohammed Yunus and Amartya Sen – Sen is correct, but Yunus is known for microfinance, not HDI.
(D) Manmohan Singh and Keith Griffin – Neither were involved in HDI’s creation, though both contributed to economic thinking.
Therefore, (C) Amartya Sen and Mehbub-ul-Haq is the correct answer. They combined philosophy, economics, and policy insight to give the world a powerful tool for evaluating human well-being.
In conclusion, HDI remains one of the most influential global indices today. Thanks to Sen and Haq, development is no longer just about growing economies—it’s about improving lives.
