Understanding the SDG India Index

The SDG India Index is a collaborative effort between the NITI Aayog and the United Nations in India. It is a comprehensive measure to track the progress of all Indian states and union territories across 115 indicators, including health, education, gender equality, climate action, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

• The indicators used in the Index are aligned with the National Indicator Framework (NIF) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• The Index has been instrumental in identifying critical gaps in tracking the SDGs and highlighting the need for India to enhance its statistical systems.
• Since its inception in December 2018, the SDG India Index has transformed into a crucial tool for monitoring the progress of the states and UTs on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The Index has also stimulated healthy competition among the states and UTs by ranking them based on various developmental parameters.
• The latest edition of the Index was released in 2021, marking the third iteration of this important measure.

Key Features of the SDG India Index

The first edition of the Index covered 13 Goals with 62 indicators. However, the latest (third) edition has expanded to cover 16 Goals on 115 quantitative indicators. The states/UTs are scored between 0 and 100 based on their performance. The composite score of a state/UT is derived by giving equal weight to each goal, in line with the indivisible nature of the 2030 Agenda.

• Aspirant: 0 – 49
• Performer: 50 – 64
• Front-Runner: 65 – 99
• Achiever: 100

SDG India Index 2020-21: Rankings and Findings

The latest SDG India Index reveals some interesting insights about the progress of different states and UTs. Some of the key findings include:

• The overall SDG score of India has seen an improvement of 6 points, from 60 in 2019 to 66 in the latest rankings. This improvement is attributed to better performance in areas like clean water, sanitation, affordable and clean energy, among others.
• Kerala has retained its top position among the states, while Chandigarh continues to top among the UTs with a composite score of 79. Delhi secured the second position among the UTs with a score of 68.
• Mizoram, Haryana, and Uttarakhand have shown significant improvement in their ranks compared to 2019.
• Interestingly, no states or UTs fall under the 'aspirant' and 'achiever' categories.

Conclusion

The SDG India Index serves as a roadmap for policy makers and planners, guiding them in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The Index fosters healthy competition among states and UTs, encouraging them to improve their performance across different parameters. As we move forward, the insights from the Index will continue to play a crucial role in shaping India's journey towards sustainable development.