WORLD BANK RANKS INDIA 4TH MOST EQUAL SOCIETY GLOBALLY

Why in the News?

Global recognition: World Bank ranks India 4th among the world’s Most Equal Societies.
Gini Index: India’s Gini score of 25.5 places it behind only Slovak Republic (24.1), Slovenia (24.3), and Belarus (24.4).
Global standing: India performs better than 167 countries, including China (35.7) and USA (41.8).

Moderately low inequality: India falls under the 25–30 Gini range, nearing the low inequality
Progress over time: India improved from 8 in 2011 to 25.5 in 2022, indicating equitable growth.
Comparison advantage: India outperforms most countries in income distribution and social equity metrics.

Growth with equity: Reflects inclusive policies that balance economic growth and social welfare.
Global reputation: Boosts India’s image in international development and policy circles.
Benchmark for reforms: Reinforces the need for continued investment in health, education, and social protection.

● Definition: Measures income or wealth inequality on a scale from 0 (perfect equality) to 100 (maximum inequality).

● Low score = equality: Lower Gini values indicate more equal societies.

● Policy tool: Used by governments and institutions to assess socio-economic fairness.

● India’s trend: Shows positive trajectory in reducing inequality over the past decade.