Social Progress Index(SPI) for States and Districts received by EAC-PM, released

Source: The post is based on the article “Social Progress Index(SPI) for States and Districts received by EAC-PM, released” published in PIB on 21st December 2022

What is the News?

The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) has released the Social Progress Index(SPI).

What is the Social Progress Index(SPI)?

Prepared by: Institute for Competitiveness and Social Progress Imperative and was mandated by the Economic Advisory Council- Prime Minister(EAC-PM).

Purpose: It is a comprehensive tool that can serve as a holistic measure of a country’s social progress at the national and sub-national levels. 

Parameters: The index assesses states and districts based on 12 components across three critical dimensions of social progress:

Ranking: Based on the SPI scores, states and districts have been ranked under six tiers of social progress with the Tier 1 indicating Very High Social Progress while the Tier 6 indicating Very Low Social Progress.

Note: The report dwells on India’s performance based on the global Social Progress Index(SPI) that is brought out by Social Progress Imperative since 2013. In its 2022 report, India has been ranked 110th (out of 169 nations) on the index and India’s aggregate SPI score of 60.2 in 2022 is slightly lower than the world average of 65.2.

What are the key findings of the Social Progress Index(SPI)?

States ranking: Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Goa have emerged as best-performing among all States and Union Territories in the index while Jharkhand and Bihar as worst.

District wise: Aizawl (Mizoram), Solan (Himachal Pradesh) and Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) have emerged as the top 3 best-performing districts.

Aspirational District Programme(ADP): Around 27 out of 112 districts under the ADP have scored above the national average on the SPI.

What is the significance of Social Progress Index(SPI)?

Firstly, by evaluating change in the performance of some key social indicators since 2015-16, the report presents a broad picture of the social progress in India.

Secondly, GDP is an incomplete measure of progress and endeavours such as the SPI, that weave in sociological factors into economic progress provides more robust and reliable analysis.

Thirdly, the findings in the report will pave the way for policymakers to make informed decisions.