UNDP Chief Haoliang Xu Praises India's Development Model as Global Blueprint

UNDP Acting Administrator Commends India's Holistic Development Approach

Haoliang Xu, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Acting Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has lauded India's development model, describing it as a global blueprint for balancing growth with sustainability. His remarks followed a three-day visit to India from November 10 to 12, 2025, aimed at strengthening cooperation in digital transformation and climate action. Xu emphasized that India has demonstrated how rapid economic expansion and social inclusion can progress in tandem, offering valuable lessons for the world, especially amidst a global slowdown in human development.

Key Pillars of India's Success Story

Xu highlighted several core components contributing to India's acclaimed development strategy:

• Technology-Driven Delivery: India's robust digital public infrastructure, including the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), was praised as a global benchmark for transparent and efficient delivery of benefits. Platforms like CoWIN, which tracked over two billion vaccinations, and the new U-WIN for immunization monitoring, developed with UNDP support, exemplify India's people-centric digital solutions.
• Social Inclusion and Participatory Governance: The UNDP chief noted India's significant investments in people, particularly vulnerable groups. Flagship programs such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and Ayushman Bharat combine livelihood support with social protection, serving as models for other nations. Initiatives like the Aspirational Districts initiative further demonstrate how data-driven governance and community participation can narrow regional disparities.
• Climate-Responsible Approaches: India's commitment to climate adaptation, renewable energy, and inclusive digital finance was underscored. Xu stated that India is shaping 'development pathways' that are both economically sound and climate-responsible, with a growing focus on 'green jobs and climate-resilient livelihoods' that align economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and the Sustainable Development Goals.

A Blueprint for Global Development Challenges

In an interview, Xu described India's development strategy as one that ensures 'no one is left behind,' a crucial aspect as the world faces a decline in human development indicators, with global progress slipping to a 35-year low. He emphasized that India's approach, combining technology, participatory governance, and resilient climate action, offers a practical blueprint for balancing growth with sustainability. India is actively translating its local success stories into global lessons through South-South cooperation, sharing its tools, technology, and frameworks with other developing countries.

Xu also highlighted the pressing need for global climate action, noting that developing countries require approximately $2.4 trillion annually by 2030 for such initiatives. He stressed the importance of creating simpler, faster, and more predictable finance systems to meet these critical needs.