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Question 43 of 73 · World Geography
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The concept of 'Gross National Happiness' as a measure of national progress originated in:

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Answer: Option A — Bhutan

Detailed Solution

The concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) was introduced by Bhutan's fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in the 1970s. He declared that "Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product (GNP)".

Meaning of GNH:

  • GNH is a development philosophy that measures progress not only by economic growth but by the overall well-being and happiness of people.
  • It aims for a balance between material and spiritual development.

Four pillars of GNH:

  • Sustainable and equitable socio-economic development.
  • Conservation of the environment.
  • Preservation and promotion of culture.
  • Good governance.

Nine domains of GNH:

Psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and living standards.

GNH in practice:

  • Bhutan's Constitution (2008) directs the state to promote conditions that enable the pursuit of Gross National Happiness.
  • The GNH Commission (now restructured) screens government policies to check their effect on happiness and well-being.
  • The Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies conducts surveys to calculate the GNH Index.

Environmental commitment:

Bhutan keeps more than 70 percent of its land under forest and is carbon-negative.

Global influence:

  • In 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, introduced by Bhutan, inviting countries to measure happiness and well-being to guide public policy.
  • The UN declared 20 March as the International Day of Happiness, first observed in 2013.

The World Happiness Report, published annually since 2012, ranks countries on life evaluations. Finland has topped it in recent years.

Criticism:

Critics point out that Bhutan still faces problems of poverty, youth unemployment and emigration, and that the treatment of the Lhotshampa (Nepali-speaking) minority in the 1990s raised human rights concerns.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Nepal, Denmark and Japan did not originate the GNH concept; Denmark and other Nordic countries often rank high in happiness surveys.

Quick tip

Remember: Gross National Happiness = Bhutan (fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, 1970s); International Day of Happiness = 20 March.

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World Geography — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of World Geography, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the physical and political geography of the world: continents, major countries, mountain ranges, plateaus, rivers, deserts, grasslands, and the world's important cities, ports and resources. Exams test the longest rivers (the Nile and the Amazon), the highest peaks and the ranges they belong to, the largest deserts, and the local names of grasslands, such as the Prairies, Pampas, Steppes and Veld. Questions on cities located on rivers, such as Baghdad on the Tigris or London on the Thames, are also common. Practise the world geography questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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