India has made considerable progress since independence towards reducing poverty and improving social development. The incidence of poverty has declined from over 50 per cent in the 1950s to less than 30 per cent in the late 2010s. The literacy rate has increased from less than20 per cent in 1951 to 65 per cent in 2011. The Human Development Index (HDI) classifies ten States as medium human development status, while nice are are low human development status, for the year 2014. The medium human development status show an average loss of 28 per cent as a result of inequalities, while low human development  status show 33 per cent loss due to inequalities on an average. Tamil Nadu occupied fifth position if terms of Inequality- Adjusted Human Index IHDI and 6% per position in terms of HDI whereas of HHI whereas Kerala stands first both in HDI, IHDI and Punjab are retained are the second position. The present study contends that Tamil Nadu has to go long way in education and health for human development.

KEYWORDS:  Reducing Poverty, Literacy rate, inequalities, Fifth Position, Human development Index.