Which of the following are pillars of human development?
A. Equity
B. Economic Growth
C. Productivity
D. Empowerment
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → A, C and D only
The idea of human development rests on four pillars, just as a building stands on pillars: equity, sustainability, productivity and empowerment.
A. Equity Correct. Equity means equal access to opportunities for everybody, whatever their gender, race, income or caste.
B. Economic Growth Incorrect. Economic growth is not one of the four pillars. For many decades development was measured only by the size of the economy; the idea of human development was put forward because such growth did not always change the lives of most people.
C. Productivity Correct. Productivity here means the productivity of human labour, which rises when people gain knowledge and better health.
D. Empowerment Correct. Empowerment means having the power to make choices, which comes from greater freedom and capability. Apart from these three, the fourth pillar is sustainability: each generation must have the same opportunities.
NCERT (2025-26): “The Four Pillars of Human Development … Just as any building is supported by pillars, the idea of human development is supported by the concepts of equity, sustainability, productivity and empowerment.… Equity refers to making equal access to opportunities available to everybody. The opportunities available to people must be equal irrespective of their gender, race, income and in the Indian case, caste.… Sustainability means continuity in the availability of opportunities. To have sustainable human development, each generation must have the same opportunities.… Productivity here means human labour productivity or productivity in terms of human work. Such productivity must be constantly enriched by building capabilities in people.… Empowerment means to have the power to make choices. Such power comes from increasing freedom and capability.…” |