Economic Size vs. SDG Rank: A Lesson for India
Interestingly, there is no direct correlation between the size of a nation’s economy and its SDG rank. Among the top six economies globally, only Germany is featured in the top five SDG rankings. The United States (ranked 43) and China (ranked 68) show that economic growth alone does not ensure sustainable development. Although Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is vital in financing SDG efforts, the link between GDP growth and sustainable outcomes is complex. Economic development can lead to better living standards but also risks environmental degradation if not managed sustainably.
SDGs are half past their journey which was initiated in 2015 and will culminate in 2030. Midterm reviews of progress made offer lessons for countries in particular the big economies. India as, one of the fastest-growing big economies in the world, driven by a young population and technological advancements can adopt a conscious approach to sustainable development in tandem with economic growth. Challenges such as income inequality, unemployment, access to opportunities, and environmental sustainability will need to be addressed to ensure inclusive growth.
India has taken many steps to address these challenges like a quantum jump in the share of renewable energy, food security, focus on MSME and start-up ecosystems for creating employment and providing access to opportunities even in remote areas, major initiatives on skilling apart from the regular interventions on health, education etc. With the right policies and investments, India has the potential not only to emerge as a major player in the global economy but also to lead the way in sustainable development.
SDG-Index (National level)
Complementing the global SDG Index, NITI Aayog launched the SDG India Index to track India’s domestic progress. The latest index covers 16 goals, 70 targets, and 113 indicators, showing a consistent improvement in India’s performance. The baseline index is computed with 13 goals, 39 targets and 62 indicators. NITI Aayog released 3 consecutive reports from 2018 to 2021 and thereafter in 2024 report. The latest report of 2024 reported 16 goals with 70 targets and 113 indicators.
In 2023-24, India’s overall SDG composite index score increased to 71, a 5-point rise from 2020-21 and 14 points higher than the 2018 baseline. This upward trend illustrates that India is making steady progress in its pursuit of sustainable development. Uttar Pradesh, in particular, has emerged as the state with the most significant improvement, recording a 25-point increase over the baseline score. Other states, such as Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Haryana, Assam, and Tripura, have also demonstrated substantial progress, further contributing to the nation’s overall performance.
The top five states in the SDG India Index for 2023-24 are Kerala (79), Uttarakhand (79), Tamil Nadu (78), Goa (77), and Himachal Pradesh (77). Chandigarh (UT) also ranks highly, with a score of 77. Notably, Uttarakhand has shown remarkable improvement, increasing its score by 7 points since the previous assessment, placing it in a joint first position with Kerala. Of the 36 states and union territories, 32 fall into the Front Runner category, scoring between 65 and 99. This marks a significant improvement from previous years, with ten states advancing from the Performer category (score between 50 and 64). Despite this progress, however, certain states continue to struggle.
States in Need of Accelerated Progress – Among the bottom five states Assam has shown significant improvement while the other four states Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, and Nagaland have recorded the least improvement since base year evaluation. These four states are not only at the bottom of the ranking but also recording the least improvement among all states and UTs. For these states, it is imperative to implement targeted and intensive interventions to accelerate their progress toward the SDGs.
SDG Rank Vs PCI Rank
Goal wise Performance
India’s journey toward achieving the 17 SDGs is ongoing, with none of the goals fully realized at the national level. Nevertheless, the country is on track to meet seven of the goals by 2030, based on current progress rates:
- Of these 7 Goals, 3 Goals (SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and Communities, SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production) Are expected to be achieved by 2025- 26 at the national level.
- SDG 3: Good Health and well-being is expected to be achieved by 2026- 27.
- Another 2 Goals (SDG 2: No Poverty, SDG 5: Zero Hunger) are expected to be achieved during 2027-28.
- SDG 5: Gender Equality is expected to be achieved by 2030-31
Despite these positive projections, eight SDGs remain unlikely to be achieved by 2030 unless India significantly accelerates its efforts. India must reassess its strategies, policies, and implementation mechanisms to ensure that these targets are met in time. Moreover, the states that are currently lagging will need to step up their efforts to contribute to the country’s overall progress.
The heatmap evaluates the performance of Indian states and union territories (UTs) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), categorizing performance into four levels: Achiever (100), Front Runner (65-99), Performer (50-64), and Aspirant (0-49). Each SDG score reflects progress toward that specific goal, while the composite score aggregates overall performance. High-performing states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Goa excel in multiple SDGs, especially SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), where all states reach the “Achiever” level. However, critical gaps emerge in regions like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Assam, particularly in SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), indicating urgent socio-economic needs. Environmental targets, notably SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), also reveal low scores across several states, suggesting a need for stronger ecological initiatives. Among UTs, Chandigarh leads, while areas like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands face challenges in SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in India requires a multi-dimensional approach that prioritizes both state-specific and goal-specific efforts. With each state facing unique challenges, tailoring strategies to address regional differences can lead to more substantial, targeted progress. Additionally, as India increases the number of indicators monitored, it is essential to evaluate whether these metrics are genuinely advancing the country toward its SDG targets. Ensuring that all data is kept up-to-date and accessible on a central portal will also support transparent monitoring and data-driven decision-making.
Mobilizing externally aided projects presents another crucial avenue. These projects should be strategically designed with the universal SDG timeline in mind, ensuring that they have the capacity to achieve 100% of their respective targets by 2030. Finally, a national-level conference dedicated to the SDGs would offer a platform for states to learn from each other’s success stories and exchange best practices. Through a collective, informed, and collaborative approach, India can build momentum toward a sustainable and inclusive future, leaving no state or goal unmet.
