Can energy equality improve India's human development index?

Energy equality is an important condition for achieving the goal of an equitable society. But, is energy equality sufficient alone? Amartya Sen’s famous 1979 Tanner Lecture delivered at Stanford University, California (USA), was titled ‘Equality of What?’. In this lecture, Sen introduced the ‘Capabilities Approach’ for the first time. He first offered a compelling critique of existing utilitarian approaches to evaluation of a society. Then, he advocated for evaluation metrics developed on the ability or capacity to do basic things. Over the years, this approach formed a strong foundation for human development paradigm. This shifts the focus from economic growth towards a measured progress of a society based on people’s capabilities. It emphasises on the various factors needed to realise their full potential as human beings.