The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) recently released the Social Progress Index (SPI) for States and Districts of India. This compilation was a project undertaken by the Institute for Competitiveness and Social Progress Imperative. Notably, the publication discusses India’s global SPI 2022 performance where it ranked 110 out of 169 nations. The global SPI has been established by the Social Progress Imperative since 2013.
EAC-PM: A Body for Economic Advice
The EAC-PM is a body established independently to advise the Prime Minister of India on matters related to economics and similar issues. Responsibilities of the EAC-PM encompass analyzing and advising the Prime Minister on macroeconomic issues of significance referred by him. These could be suomoto or reference-based tasks from the Prime Minister or other individuals. Furthermore, the council also undertakes any other tasks as may be demanded by the Prime Minister periodically.
Understanding the SPI
The SPI is a comprehensive tool aiming to measure a nation’s social progress at both national and sub-national levels holistically. The intention of this report is to establish a systematic account of the social progress made at all tiers within the country. It employs a broad framework comprising 89 indicators at the state level and 49 at the district level.
Components of SPI Assessment
The index evaluates states and districts based on twelve different components across three critical social progress dimensions. The first dimension of Basic Human Needs interprets the performance of states and districts in aspects like Nutrition and Basic Medical Care, Water and Sanitation, Personal Safety, and Shelter.
The second dimension, Foundations of Wellbeing, examines the country’s progress within components of Access to Basic Knowledge, Access to Information and Communication, Health and Wellness, and Environmental Quality.
Lastly, the Opportunity dimension concentrates on aspects such as Personal Rights, Personal Freedom, and Choice, Inclusiveness, and Access to Advanced Education.
Insights from the Index
Among all evaluated territories, Puducherry managed to secure the highest score in the SPI. On the other hand, Jharkhand and Bihar received the lowest scores.
In terms of Basic Human Needs, Goa, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, and Chandigarh have emerged as top-performing states, especially in the areas of water, sanitation, and shelter.
For the Foundations of Wellbeing dimension, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Goa are the best-performing states. Environmental Quality was best accounted for by Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.
The Opportunity dimension saw Tamil Nadu achieving the highest score.
Regarding district performances, Aizawl (Mizoram), Solan (Himachal Pradesh), and Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) secured the first three ranks respectively.
All in all, the SPI report presents an in-depth look into India’s social development, offering significant insights for policy-making and future improvements.
