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)
SDG-Index (National level)
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.
Similar to global trends, there is little correlation between per capita income and SDG performance at the state level in India. Among the 36 states and UTs, 19 have achieved scores at or above the national average of 71, while 14 states and UTs remain below this threshold. Interestingly, none of the states with the highest per capita income are ranked in the top five for SDG performance. This reinforces the idea that economic prosperity does not automatically translate into sustainable development. States with high per capita incomes must take conscious steps to ensure that their economic growth is inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
Similar to global trends, there is little correlation between per capita income and SDG performance at the state level in India. Among the 36 states and UTs, 19 have achieved scores at or above the national average of 71, while 14 states and UTs remain below this threshold. Interestingly, none of the states with the highest per capita income are ranked in the top five for SDG performance. This reinforces the idea that economic prosperity does not automatically translate into sustainable development. States with high per capita incomes must take conscious steps to ensure that their economic growth is inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
Similar to global trends, there is little correlation between per capita income and SDG performance at the state level in India. Among the 36 states and UTs, 19 have achieved scores at or above the national average of 71, while 14 states and UTs remain below this threshold. Interestingly, none of the states with the highest per capita income are ranked in the top five for SDG performance. This reinforces the idea that economic prosperity does not automatically translate into sustainable development. States with high per capita incomes must take conscious steps to ensure that their economic growth is inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
