Daily Hot Topic
Topic : India’s Progress on SDG India Index 2023-24
GS-3 Mains : Economyy
Released by: NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)
About SDG India Index:
- Measures progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across India.
- Tracks performance of States and UTs on 113 indicators aligned with National Indicator Framework (NIF).
- Scores range from 0-100 (100 indicates complete achievement).
India’s Progress:
- Overall SDG India Index score improved from 57 (2018) to 71 (2023-24).
- Significant improvements in:
- Goal 1 (No Poverty)
- Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
- Goal 13 (Climate Action) (all in ‘Front Runner’ category with a score of 65-99)
- Other improvements since 2018:
- Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
- Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
- Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
- Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)
- Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
Top Performers:
- States: Uttarakhand and Kerala
- Fastest improvements (2018-2023):
- Uttar Pradesh (+25 points)
- Jammu & Kashmir (+21 points)
- Uttarakhand (+19 points)
Government Initiatives for SDG Achievement:
- PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) – Over 4 crore houses built
- PM Ujjwala Yojana – 10 crore LPG connections provided
- Jal Jeevan Mission – Over 14.9 crore households with tap water connections
- Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – Over 30 crore beneficiaries
- National Food Security Act (NFSA) – Over 80 crore people covered
- PM-Jan Dhan accounts – ₹34 lakh crore transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
- Skill India Mission – Over 1.4 crore youth trained and upskilled
- PM Mudra Yojana – 43 crore loans sanctioned for entrepreneurs (₹22.5 lakh crore)
- Increased focus on renewable energy – Solar power capacity rose from 2.82 GW to 73.32 GW (past decade)
- Improved digital infrastructure – Internet data costs reduced by 97% (positive impact on financial inclusion)
Challenges:
- Declining scores in income and gender equality.
- Issues in low performing states: sex ratio at birth etc.
Conclusion:
- India improved its SDG performance, particularly in poverty reduction, economic growth, and climate action.
- Addressing income and gender inequalities remains crucial.
- NITI Aayog is committed to supporting States/UTs in achieving SDGs for a developed India by 2047 (Viksit Bharat @ 2047).
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