In the latest release of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) India Index by Niti Aayog, Uttarakhand and Kerala have emerged as front-runners, jointly securing the top position for the year 2023-24. This achievement underscores their significant strides towards sustainable development, earning them a score of 79 out of 100, surpassing the national average of 71.
The SDG Index, a comprehensive assessment conducted by the government think tank, evaluates states and union territories on their progress across 16 key development goals. These goals encompass critical areas such as poverty eradication, healthcare access, education quality, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.
Among the states making notable strides, Himachal Pradesh secured the fourth position with a score of 77, closely followed by Punjab at 76 and Haryana at 72, placing them in the top 5 bracket nationwide. This recognition reflects their efforts in achieving sustainable economic growth, ensuring social inclusivity, and promoting environmental conservation within their regions.
Conversely, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Nagaland found themselves at the lower end of the spectrum, highlighting the challenges that persist in these states towards meeting the SDGs. Bihar, with a score of 57, faced particular struggles in several metrics, indicating areas where targeted interventions are crucial to enhance development outcomes.
The SDG Index also shed light on the performance of union territories, with Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir leading the pack with scores of 77 and 74, respectively. Meanwhile, Ladakh, scoring 65, registered the lowest performance among UTs, prompting a need for tailored strategies to bolster their progress across sustainable development parameters.
Addressing the nation’s overall improvement, Niti Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam expressed optimism about India’s trajectory in achieving the SDGs ahead of the 2030 deadline. He noted significant advancements in poverty alleviation, economic growth, climate action, and environmental sustainability, attributing these gains to targeted governmental efforts and policies.
Looking forward, Subrahmanyam emphasized the importance of sustained momentum and collaborative efforts across all sectors to build on current achievements and bridge existing gaps. As India aims to exceed expectations in its SDG commitments, the latest index serves as a pivotal tool for policymakers, enabling them to prioritize areas needing urgent attention and accelerate progress towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.
The SDG India Index not only benchmarks states and union territories but also serves as a barometer of India’s collective journey towards achieving global development goals, reflecting both successes and challenges in the pursuit of a prosperous and equitable society.
