UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The Human Development Index combines indicators of life expectancy,education and income into a single measure. It was introduced by UNDP to shift focus from mere income growth to people centred development. By integrating these three dimensions,it reflects overall human well being better than purely economic measures. Therefore the description in the question corresponds to the Human Development Index.

Option A:
Gross National Product measures the total value of goods and services produced by a country’s residents. It does not directly incorporate education or health outcomes. Hence it fails to capture the multidimensional concept described in the stem.

Option B:
The Physical Quality of Life Index includes literacy,infant mortality and life expectancy,but it does not include standard of living measured through income in the same way HDI does. It is related but not the index defined in the question. Therefore it is not the most accurate match here.

Option C:
The Human Development Index explicitly uses indicators of health,education and income. It provides a composite score that allows comparison of countries beyond simple economic output. This makes it the correct answer for the definition given.

Option D:
Gender Empowerment Measure focuses on gender equality in political and economic participation. It highlights women’s empowerment,rather than general human development. Thus it is quite different from the composite index described in the question.

Literacy rate is defined as the proportion of people in a specified age group who can both read and write with comprehension in at least one language. It serves as a basic indicator of educational attainment and human capital. The stem repeats this definition,so literacy rate is the correct term. Higher literacy is closely linked to better development outcomes.

Option A:
Gross enrolment ratio measures total enrolment in a specific level of education relative to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to that level. It does not directly indicate reading and writing ability,so it is not suitable for the blank.

Option B:
School attendance rate captures how many children are currently attending school,but some attendees may still lack functional literacy. It therefore cannot substitute for the more precise reading and writing measure requested.

Option C:
Literacy rate directly addresses the skills of reading and writing with understanding. It is usually calculated for age 7 and above in the Indian context. Because the stem mentions these abilities,this option correctly identifies the indicator.

Option D:
Dropout rate reflects the proportion of students who leave school before completing a particular stage. It is an educational concern but does not describe the ability to read and write,so it does not match the definition given.