In the Human Development Index (HDI), the longevity is measured by
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GATE 2023 Question 37: Poverty, inequality and human development
Answer and worked solution
Answer: (D)
The UNDP's Human Development Index measures three dimensions: a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living. The health/longevity dimension is specifically measured using life expectancy at birth — the standard, officially used indicator.
(B) 'Healthy life expectancy' and (C) 'disability-adjusted life years' are related but distinct health metrics used in other contexts (e.g., WHO health burden studies), not the specific indicator HDI uses. (A) 'Child survival rate' is a component more associated with older composite indices like the Human Poverty Index, not HDI's longevity dimension.
Therefore the answer is (D) life expectancy at birth.
The trap: (B) healthy life expectancy
'Healthy life expectancy' sounds like a more refined, plausible-sounding version of the same idea, and students who know HDI cares about 'health' broadly but not the exact indicator name may pick it over the specifically correct 'life expectancy at birth,' which is the term actually used in HDI's official methodology.
Poverty, inequality and human development has come up 92 times in 7 exams since 2010.
What this question tests
This question is on Human development, capabilities and development goals, part of Poverty, inequality and human development in Economics of Growth and Development.
Broader measures of well-being and the international targets that use them.
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Question from the GATE 2023 paper. Solutions are TestStop's own. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any examination authority.