Responsible Nations Index Launched to Measure Ethical and Inclusive Governance

Former President Ram Nath Kovind has launched the Responsible Nations Index (RNI) in New Delhi, highlighting the need to judge nations not only by economic or military strength but by their responsibility towards humanity. The index stresses ethical governance, inclusive development and moral responsibility as key pillars for building a sustainable national and global future.

Why in News?

The Responsible Nations Index was officially launched by Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi. It introduces a new global framework to assess countries based on responsibility rather than power or wealth.

What is the Responsible Nations Index (RNI)?

• The Responsible Nations Index is a global evaluative framework designed to measure how responsibly countries behave towards their citizens, the environment and the global intellectual community.
• Unlike traditional indices that focus mainly on GDP, military power or influence, RNI emphasizes ethical governance, human-centric policies and sustainable development.
• The index aims to encourage nations to adopt moral responsibility in policymaking, ensuring that progress benefits society as a whole.
• By redefining benchmarks of national success, RNI seeks to promote a more balanced and humane model of global development.

Institutions Behind the Index

• The RNI has been developed by the World Intellectual Foundation in academic collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University.
• This partnership combines policy research with academic expertise to ensure credibility and depth in evaluation.
• The involvement of academic institutions strengthens the analytical foundation of the index and supports evidence-based assessment of nations.
• Such collaboration also reflects the growing role of knowledge institutions in shaping global governance frameworks.

Key Highlights at the Launch

• While addressing the gathering, Mr Kovind emphasised ethical governance, inclusive growth and moral leadership as essential elements of responsible nationhood.
• He underlined that long-term sustainability depends on how nations treat their people, protect the environment and contribute to global knowledge.
• According to him, responsibility must guide policymaking at both national and international levels.
• The RNI aligns with this vision by encouraging countries to integrate ethics, inclusivity and accountability into governance systems.

Key Summary at a Glance

Question

Q. The Responsible Nations Index primarily evaluates countries based on which factor?

A. Military strength
B. GDP growth
C. Ethical and responsible governance
D. Population size