True but you could say that with many Indian states, as well. That’s why I tried to include only large, major states rather than, say, the territory of Delhi or Islamabad.

For example, Western UP is quite developed but Eastern UP is underdeveloped.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1126363/people-living-northern-punjab-urban-sindh-prosperous-rest-country-report?amp=1

Describe to me in as few words as possible what “two HDI separated states in the middle value region” would mean to an administrator and to the people of the regions. The regions are blinded, so both have no clue. Do you really think that the one with the higher HDI is better off as a rule?

I have identified more than 17 pairs, where the one with the lower HDI value is infinitely better off. And btw when something is named “human development index”, it deserves full spectrum criticism.

HDI is a Talebian IYI measure – it means nothing in the real world except to a few academics who think literacy means wisdom, longevity implies state efficiency and migration does not accumulate wealth.

Raghuram Rajan’s multidimensional index for development

*Only including major states
*Lower score = better

1. Kerala – 0.095
2. Tamil Nadu – 0.341
3. Punjab – 0.345
4. Maharashtra – 0.352
5. Uttarakhand – 0.383
6. Haryana – 0.395
7. Karnataka – 0.453
8. Gujarat – 0.491
9. Indian Kashmir – 0.504
10. Andhra Pradesh (incl Telangana) – 0.521
11. Bengal – 0.551
12. Rajasthan – 0.626
13. Uttar Pradesh – 0.638
14. Assam – 0.707
15. Jharkhand – 0.746
16. Chhattisgarh – 0.752
17. Madhya Pradesh – 0.759
18. Bihar – 0.765
19. Odisha – 0.798

But I do think that a metric like this, if statistically sound, is probably better than GDP in measuring the quality of life as an aid to policy. I’ve also read somewhere that the much talked about ‘happiness index’ from a few years ago has been roundly debunked.

And finally, the fact that little SL, after decades of civil war has left India lagging behind is quite humbling. How does Myanmar compare? And the SE nations? I think culturally those would be better nations to compare India to rather our Western neighbors.

“What is interesting is that the GDP per capita of Pakistani Punjab is substantially higher than that of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Would be interesting to look at what components Pak Punjab scores fairs so badly.”

Pak Punjab has S-Punjab AKA the UP-Bihar of that state. Northern Punjab development is also due to the same NCR – Western UP phenomena, satellite towns growth due to proximity to Capital and better developed cities.

“Any ideas about what can be done for economic growth to pick up in Eastern UP and Bihar.”

For anything to happen there, East India needs at least one dynamic city, but after our beloved commies have totally “uplifted” Calcutta;s industry for 40 odd years, i am pretty sure nothing gonna.

“HDI is a typical “one size fits all” metric. Primarily built to hold up the European model in awe by Amartya Sen, it is quite misleading”

Commies would like a word with you….

“No self-respecting middle class dwelling aspirant in India will ever opt to go and live/work in Kerala, that eternal pit of zero work-culture, ”

Oh Hoju!

“How is Odisha that far down given how many times BJD keep winning there”

Having studied there for some time, BJD is to Orissa, what Dravidian parties are to Tamil Nadu, BJP is to Gujrat.

In short the natural party of that state

I feel like Haryana / Delhi / Western UP is another magnet region that draws people from far and wide.

Really that whole part of North India is among the most developed parts of the country by many measures (Punjab, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Western UP).