India has a long way to go and still a lot of work needs to be done to fulfil the parameters of health, education and women empowerment.

The challenges to progress in human development are as follows:

(i) Health: The impediments in the fulfilment of the parameters in the area of health are population growth, widespread common and contagious diseases, malnutrition, physically disabled handicapped and mental disorder. Environmental pollution and crowded habitat created by increasing urbanization are health-related obstacles.

(ii) Sex ratio: The ratio of the female population to the male population is unfavourable. As per the Census of 2011. Female population was 48.46% to 51.54% male population. The sex ratio was most unsatisfactory in the states like Punjab and Haryana. The proportion of female illiteracy is larger, their per capita income is lower, fewer women have employment opportunities. Gender-based discrimination and inequality in economic, political, social-cultural and religious fields poses a huge challenge to human development in India.

(iii) Women empowerment: Women are victims of unhealthy social traditions and gender-based discrimination. Women are ‘powerless’ in comparison to men. Women lack financial independence and this dependence – makes them “helpless’. A number of steps have been taken in the direction of women empowerment, such as 50% reservation of seats in local self-government and encouragement to the formation of the Self-Help Groups of women. However, more efforts are necessary to empower women.