In Feb 2018, on an invitation from the Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP), Bhopal, I participated in an international workshop organized by the Rajya Anand Sansthan at Bhopal, focusing on measuring and developing a happiness index for the state of Madhya Pradesh. This gathering marked a significant step in MP’s pursuit of enhancing the well-being of its citizens.
The workshop culminated in agreements around a forward agenda. I referred to this in a blog post in March 2018 as The Bhopal Manifesto. The aim was to create a broader visionary document to integrate happiness into the core of public policy. It reflected an aspiration to move beyond traditional economic indices and adopt a human-centered model of governance rooted in well-being. The manifesto emphasized cultivating inner joy, community belonging, social trust, and sustainable lifestyles.
Seven years later, the Rajya Anand Sansthan organized a national seminar on happiness (March 20-21, 2025) to reflect on the progress made and chart future interventions. I was happy to receive their invitation to be part of this celebration. This event provided an opportunity to assess the strides taken since the manifesto’s inception and to envision the path ahead. Being part of this I realised that we have travelled a long way and the state government has taken several steps to improve and enhance a sense of belonging, feel of satisfaction, and an emotion of joy in the heart of its people.
Established in 2016, the Rajya Anand Sansthan (RAS) was India’s first government department dedicated solely to promoting happiness and well-being. Drawing inspiration from Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) model, the Sansthan aimed to create a holistic framework for enhancing the quality of life in Madhya Pradesh, addressing not just economic prosperity but also emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.
Over the years, the RAS has launched several initiatives to foster happiness among the populace. Some of the key Initiatives are as follows:
- Happiness Curriculum in Schools: Recognizing the importance of instilling values of well-being from a young age, the Sansthan introduced a happiness curriculum for students in classes 9 to 12. This curriculum emphasizes gratitude, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence, aiming to nurture well-rounded individuals..
- Anand Utsav and Anand Clubs: These community-driven programs encourage citizens to engage in activities that promote joy and social cohesion. Through music, art, and cultural events, the Sansthan has created platforms for people to connect and celebrate togetherness.
- Public Dialogues and Media Outreach: Happiness carnivals and mass outreach programs brought the discourse to the public, aiming to democratize access to tools of well-being.
- Neki Ki Deewar (“Wall of Kindness”): this initiative involves setting up walls where people can leave items they no longer need for others to take freely. It fosters a sense of community support and altruism..
- Anandaks (Volunteers): With a network of thousands of volunteers, the Sansthan has mobilized citizens to spread happiness through various outreach programs, workshops, and seminars.
- Collaboration with Academic Institutions: The Sansthan partnered with national and international research bodies to conduct surveys, workshops, and longitudinal studies on subjective well-being across districts. Their partnership with research bodies, including an MoU with IIT Kharagpur’s Rekhi Centre of Excellence led to extensive field research across ten districts, engaging over a thousand individuals.
In parallel, the state’s annual budget began including allocations for mental health services, community well-being centers, and citizen engagement platforms.
Understanding that Western models might not fully capture the nuances of Indian society, the Sansthan embarked on developing its own happiness index tailored to the cultural and social context of Madhya Pradesh. This index was supposed to consider factors like relationships, income, education, health, and safety, providing a comprehensive picture of the state’s well-being landscape, however the part of measurement could not take a final step, though through an MoU, they had engaged IIT Kharagpur experts.
Parallel to Madhya Pradesh’s efforts, India as a nation has made significant progress in improving the living conditions of its citizens. The collaboration between RAS and IIT Kharagpur’s Rekhi Centre of Excellence for the Science of Happiness led to extensive field research across ten districts in Madhya Pradesh. Engaging with over a thousand individuals from diverse backgrounds, the study identified 14 domains influencing happiness, including safety, income, health, education, governance, environment, and relationships. This comprehensive approach underscored the multifaceted nature of well-being and the importance of contextual understanding in policy formulation.
Moreover, the rural-urban poverty gap has narrowed, indicating more equitable growth across different regions. Initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (housing for all), Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (cleanliness drive), and Jan Dhan Yojana (financial inclusion) have played pivotal roles in enhancing the quality of life for millions.
Since its inception, GDP has served as the primary indicator of economic health and progress. Rooted in the works of economists like Simon Kuznets and Richard Stone, GDP quantifies the total value of goods and services produced within a country, offering a snapshot of economic activity. While invaluable for certain analyses, GDP falls short in capturing the nuances of human well-being, such as mental health, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability. This inadequacy has prompted scholars, policymakers, and international organizations to seek alternative metrics that more accurately reflect the holistic development of societies.
In response to GDP’s short comings, the United Nations Development Programme introduced the Human Development Index (HDI) in 1990. HDI incorporates indicators of health (life expectancy), education (mean and expected years of schooling), and standard of living (GNI per capita), offering a more comprehensive view of development. While HDI marked a significant advancement, it still primarily relies on quantitative data and may not fully capture subjective well-being.
Bhutan’s GNH represents a pioneering effort to redefine progress through the lens of well-being. Introduced in the 1970s, GNH encompasses four pillars: sustainable development, cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and good governance. These pillars are further divided into nine domains, including psychological well-being, community vitality, and ecological diversity. Bhutan’s model has inspired global discourse on integrating happiness into development paradigms.
Launched in 2012, the World Happiness Report (WHR) offers an annual assessment of global well-being based on survey data from over 150 countries. The report evaluates factors such as income, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption perceptions. Notably, the 2024 WHR highlighted several key findings:
- Age and Happiness: Older generations report higher life satisfaction compared to younger cohorts, particularly in North America and Western Europe.
- Post-Pandemic Benevolence: Acts of kindness, such as volunteering and helping strangers, have increased by over 10% since pre-pandemic levels, indicating a sustained rise in social solidarity.
- Happiness Inequality: Global happiness inequality has risen by more than 20% over the past decade, with significant disparities across regions and age groups.
The World Happiness Report, published annually by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, has become a cornerstone in this domain. The report evaluates countries based on factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
India’s rankings in the World Happiness Report have seen fluctuations over the years:
- 2018: Ranked 133rd out of 156 countries.
- 2023: Ranked 125th out of 136 countries.
- 2024: Maintained the 126th position out of 143 countries.
- 2025: Improved to 118th out of 147 countries.
While these rankings indicate gradual progress, they also highlight the challenges that remain in enhancing the overall well-being of the population.
The efforts in Madhya Pradesh have inspired other states and national bodies to consider well-being in their policy frameworks. The integration of happiness and well-being metrics into governance has led to initiatives focusing on mental health, community engagement, and sustainable development.
For instance, the RAS has organized seminars and workshops to disseminate findings and promote practices that enhance happiness. These events have facilitated knowledge exchange and encouraged the adoption of similar models in other regions. These insights underscore the complexity of well-being and the necessity of multidimensional approaches to measure and enhance it. It is however interesting that many of the ideas and focus areas of world happiness reports have been cornerstone of Indian society ever since its inception, e.g., sharing meal, helping others, sense of togetherness, community feeling etc.
While economic indicators show positive trends, it is essential to recognize that material prosperity alone doesn’t guarantee happiness. The initiatives by the RAS underscore the importance of addressing emotional and social dimensions of well-being. By integrating happiness into governance, Madhya Pradesh sets an example for other states and countries to follow.
According to the World Bank, extreme poverty in India declined from 16.2% in 2011-12 to 2.3% in 2022-23, lifting approximately 171 million people out of extreme poverty. This remarkable achievement reflects the impact of various government schemes focused on rural development, education, healthcare, and financial inclusion.
While MP led at the state level, the Government of India began to align more closely with global well-being framework. India’s policy think tank, NITI Aayog, embraced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), many of which—such as good health, gender equality, and reduced inequalities—align with the pillars of well-being. In 2020, the launch of India’s National Mental Health Mission acknowledged the psychosocial dimensions of well-being, with increased funding and awareness campaigns. The pandemic underscored the fragility of physical health and the salience of mental well-being. Policy narratives post-2020 increasingly recognized happiness and emotional resilience as governance goals
From the reflections and field interactions conducted as part of the Anand movement, several themes emerged:
- Community over Commodity: People valued relationships, purpose, and contribution more than income increases.
- Inner Engineering: Happiness training based on mindfulness, gratitude, and service proved effective in enhancing emotional well-being.
- Cultural Compatibility: Unlike imported frameworks, happiness rooted in Indian philosophical traditions—like Ananda, Santosha, and Seva-resonated deeply with people.
- Role of Institutions: Schools, families, and workplaces emerged as crucial arenas for nurturing happiness.
As we reflect on the journey from the Bhopal Manifesto to the present, it is evident that a multi-faceted approach is crucial for fostering a happy and prosperous society. Continued investment in education, healthcare, and community-building, coupled with policies that prioritize mental and emotional well-being, will be key to sustaining this momentum.
Between 2018 and 2025, Madhya Pradesh emerged as a torchbearer in India’s journey toward a happiness-centric development paradigm. The legacy of the Bhopal Manifesto, enriched by global insights and grounded local practices, helped lay the foundation for an alternative vision of progress—one that places the human being at the center. As the global conversation around well-being matures, India’s experiments, especially those initiated in MP, offer valuable lessons. The coming decades must institutionalize these learnings, making well-being not a rhetorical aspiration but a practical goal of governance.
In conclusion, the collaborative efforts of government bodies, civil society, and citizens have laid a strong foundation for a happier India. The progress made in Madhya Pradesh serves as a testament to what can be achieved when happiness is placed at the heart of development.
[published in smarika (स्मारिका, राज्य आनंद संस्थान, मध्य प्रदेश, भोपाल 2025) p 67-71]
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