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User: On all development indexes, has bihar improved it's ranking in last 20 years

On all development indexes, has bihar improved it's ranking in last 20 years

Assistant: That’s a very good and complex question.

That’s a very good and complex question. Short answer: yes, Bihar has made noticeable improvements on many development fronts in the past ~20 years — but big challenges remain, and in many indexes it still lags behind many other Indian states.

Here’s a breakdown of how Bihar’s development has changed, and where it still struggles, based on different development metrics:

Key Areas of Improvement

1. Economic Growth - Bihar’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has grown very strongly. Forbes reports that between 2005 and 2024-25, Bihar’s economy transformed significantly, diversifying beyond agriculture. Forbes India - According to the Bihar Economic Survey 2024-25, nominal GSDP growth was 14.5% in 2023-24. Drishti IAS - Per capita income has also risen: as per the same survey, per capita GSDP (current prices) reached Rs 66,828 in 2023-24. Drishti IAS
2. Poverty Reduction (Multidimensional Poverty) - According to NITI Aayog data, Bihar’s proportion of people in multidimensional poverty fell from 51.89% in 2015-16 to 33.76% in 2021-22. NITI Aayog - That is a very large reduction. As NITI Aayog itself said, Bihar led all states in this poverty reduction during that period. The Times of India - A research paper looking at NFHS (National Family Health Survey) data suggests that in 2005-06 around 82.58% of Bihar’s population was “MPI poor” (i.e., multidimensionally poor), and by 2019–20 that had dropped sharply to about 24.87%. iasp.ac.in
3. Health - Maternal mortality rate (MMR) has gone down a lot: from 374 per 100,000 live births in 2005 to around 100 more recently. The Times of India - According to the Economic Survey, health-sector spending has increased significantly (health expenditure rose ~13x over last ~18 years per the survey). Forbes India
4. Education / Literacy - Literacy has improved. According to a more recent caste survey (quoted by media), literacy is up from about 61.8% (in 2011) to ~79.7%. The Times of India - Education spending has also gone up. Per the state’s economic survey, social-sector spending (education, health) has increased strongly over these years. Forbes India - Bihar was once described as “most-improved big state” in education and inclusive development by India Today. India Today
5. Infrastructure - Significant improvement in road infrastructure: for example, rural road density has increased substantially. Drishti IAS - Energy consumption is rising (per capita energy consumption has increased). Drishti IAS - There have been many investments in social infrastructure (water supply, electricity, etc.). Drishti IAS

Where Bihar Still Lags / Challenges

• Human Development Index (HDI): Despite improvements, Bihar’s HDI remains very low compared to many states. Some sources claim it was 0.609 in 2022, which is low, and Bihar continues to rank among the lowest in HDI. Squirrels
• Sanitation: While utilities like water supply and electricity have improved, access to sanitation remains a problem. India Today notes that only ~47.3% of households (as per some data) in Bihar have any kind of sanitation facility. India Today
• Industrialization: Bihar’s economy is still relatively less industrialized compared to more developed states; a large fraction of its economy depends on agriculture. India Today
• Fiscal Constraints: According to NITI Aayog’s “Macro and Fiscal Landscape” report, Bihar’s per capita income was still very low compared to many states, and its revenue base is constrained. NITI Aayog
• Education Quality / Dropout: While literacy is improving, dropout rates (especially in higher classes or secondary school) remain a concern in some analyses. (Also noted in poverty decomposition studies.) iasp.ac.in

Conclusion

• Yes, Bihar has made significant progress over the past 20 years on many development indicators: poverty has dropped, infrastructure has grown, health and education spending have expanded, and economic growth has been strong.
• But, relative to more developed Indian states, Bihar still has a long way to go — especially in terms of human development (HDI), sanitation, industrial development, and per capita income.

So, on absolute terms, its ranking on development has improved in many areas, but on relative terms (compared with other states) it is still lagging in several key metrics.

If you like, I can run a detailed comparison of Bihar’s ranking on major development indices (HDI, MPI, SDG, etc.) for 2005 vs 2025 — do you want me to do that?