Spatial Pattern of Development in Districts of India

Though data constraints at the district level are improving over time, there are few studies that have examined the spatial pattern of development in the districts of India. Using a set of nine indicators in three dimensions of human development (health, social and economic), this chapter examines the spatial pattern of development in 640 districts of India. Two composite indices, namely, the District Development Index (DDI) and the Relative Development Index (RDI), are constructed and used to rank the districts according to the level of development. The spatial pattern of development has been assessed using Moran’s I statistics.