PM Modi picks happiest neighbour, Bhutan, for first foreign visit

Japan was tipped to be the first destination that newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit given Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Shinozo Abe’s relation even before they became heads of state. Instead,Modi has chosen to go to Bhutan, one of India’s friendliest neighbours whose economy is closely linked with its bigger neighbour.

What is special about Bhutan? For starters, Bhutan is the only country in the world to have a Gross Happiness Index.

The gross national happiness index is based on equitable social development, cultural preservation, conservation of the environment and promotion of good governance.

That does not reflect in the country’s GDP though. Bhutan’s GDP declined to 4.8 percent, the lowest since 2008 as a result of a policy-engineered slowdown in 2012, according to a World Bankreport.

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However, the economy is expected to rebound to 6.5 percent this year, supported by hydro power construction and higher electricity and food production, after favourable rains, the report said.

But can countries claim to be `happy’ even if they do not have a declared Gross Happiness Index? Yes, the alternative is a Happiness Index, a prosperity index which is formulated by the Legatum Institute in London, a think tank dedicated to find out how to make the world a better place, says the Forbesmagazine.

According to the index, Norway, Sweden, Canada and New Zealand rank in the happiest countries of the world thanks to the fact they enjoy peace, freedom, freely available healthcare and have good educational facilities.

Bhutan does not figure on the list of happiest countries yet, but then it does not find its name in the list of the saddest countries either.