RESPONSIBLE NATION INDEX
Why in News
- India ranked 16th in the Responsible Nations Index (RNI).
- Singapore secured Rank 1, followed by Denmark (2nd) and Switzerland (3rd).
- The index covers 154 countries.
- The United States ranked 66th, China 68th.
- Syria (153rd) and Central African Republic (154th) ranked at the bottom.
- The index was launched in India by former President Ramnath Kovind.
WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBLE NATION INDEX?
- The Responsible Nations Index (RNI) measures how responsibly a nation exercises its power.
- It shifts focus from power-centric indicators (GDP, military strength) to responsibility-centric evaluation
- It emphasises:
- Ethical governance
- Human rights
- Social well-being
- Environmental stewardship
- Global responsibility
WHO DEVELOPED THIS INDEX?
- Developed by the World Intellectual Foundation (WIF)
- In collaboration with:
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Indian Institute of Management Mumbai
- Conceptualised by Rajendra Pratap Gupta.
CORE PHILOSOPHY OF RNI
- Central question:
“How responsibly does a nation exercise its power?”
- Belief:
- Prosperity without responsibility is unsustainable
- Encourages:
-
- Ethical governance
- Humane development
- Intergenerational planning
- Global stewardship
OBJECTIVE OF THE INDEX
- To promote:
- Peace
- Prosperity
- Sustainability
- To make governments accountable for policies and actions.
- To realign global priorities towards liveability and long-term wellbeing.
HOW RNI IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER INDEXES?
- Not limited to:
- GDP
- Economic growth
- Includes strong social, environmental and governance indicators.
- Focuses on:
- Citizens
- Planet
- International responsibility
FRAMEWORK OF THE RNI
Dimensions (3)
- Domestic
- Planetary
- International
Themes (7)
- Quality of Life
- Equity
- Equality
- Governance
- Environment & Sustainability
- Intergenerational Planning
- International Relations
Sub-Themes (13)
- Health Investment
- Education & Skill Development
- Citizen-centric policies
- Social justice & inclusiveness
- Women empowerment
- Digital freedom
- Religious freedom
- Legal freedom
- Economic parameters
- Institutions & governance systems
- Land, air, water & energy
- Long-term planning
- Peaceful coexistence
Indicators (58)
Measured using objective data such as:
- Life Expectancy
- Infant & Maternal Mortality Rates
- Access to healthcare and sanitation
- Drinking water and electricity access
- Literacy and education outcomes
- Gender equality and women representation
- LGBTQI+ rights
- Media freedom and democracy
- Rule of law and corruption
- Renewable energy use
- Air quality and CO₂ emissions
- Climate commitments (Paris Agreement)
- Long-term national planning
- International treaties (NPT, CWC, BTWC)
- UN sanctions and FATF status
METHODOLOGY
- Based on scientific, objective scoring.
- Methodology was placed in the public domain (Aug–Oct 2021).
- Inputs collected from:
- Government websites
- UN-recognised databases
- Global indices
- Embassies and missions
- Countries were given a chance to review and update their data before final rankings.
INDIA’S PERFORMANCE
- Rank: 16 out of 154
- Reflects:
- Strong performance in domestic responsibility
- Progress in social welfare and governance
- Need for improvement in environmental and global responsibility areas
SIGNIFICANCE OF RNI FOR INDIA & THE WORLD
- Encourages nations to:
- Balance growth with ethics
- Focus on human dignity
- Protect future generations
- Aligns well with:
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Climate action
- Inclusive development narratives
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