INDIA ENTERS TOP 100 IN SDG INDEX FOR THE FIRST TIME

Why is News : 

• India has ranked 99th out of 167 countries in the 2025 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – breaking into the top 100 for the first time.

Key Highlights

India’s Score: 67 (out of 100)

Previous Rankings:

• 2024: 109th
• 2023: 112th
• 2022: 121st
• 2021: 120th

Top Global Performers:

• Finland (1st), Sweden (2nd), Denmark (3rd)

India’s Neighbours:

• Bhutan – 74th (70.5)
• Nepal – 85th (68.6)
• Bangladesh – 114th (63.9)
• Pakistan – 140th (57)
• Sri Lanka – 93rd; Maldives – 53rd
• China: Ranked 49th (74.4)
• USA: Ranked 44th (75.2)

About the SDG Index

The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) tracks global and national progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015.

• A score of 100 indicates full achievement of all SDGs.
• The index evaluates indicators across poverty, health, education, inequality, climate action, institutional performance, etc.

Global Findings from the Report

Only 17% of SDG targets are on track for 2030.

Key challenges identified:

• Geopolitical conflicts (e.g. wars in Ukraine, Gaza)
• Fiscal constraints in developing countries
• Structural vulnerabilities (e.g. climate change, pandemics)
• Europe continues to dominate, but even top performers face issues with climate change and unsustainable consumption.

Significance of India’s Rise

Consistent year-on-year improvement from 2021 to 2025 signals policy gains.

Reflects India’s efforts in:

• Expanding renewable energy
• Boosting sanitation and housing (e.g., Swachh Bharat, PMAY)
• Financial inclusion (e.g., Jan Dhan, UPI)
• Access to education and health (e.g., Ayushman Bharat, NEP)
• Indicates progress in SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Health), SDG 6 (Clean Water) and SDG 7 (Energy).

Challenges That Remain

• Poor performance in SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 16 (Peace & Justice)
• Sub-national disparities: Northern and eastern states lag behind southern and western counterparts.
• Implementation gaps and data limitations in tracking SDG targets.
• Centre–State coordination, financing, and local-level ownership remain weak.

Takeaways & Way Forward

• Sustained Policy Focus: Maintain momentum on health, education, water, energy, and digital access.
• Climate-Resilient Growth: Prioritize SDG 13 (Climate Action) through green finance and carbon neutrality targets.
• Gender & Social Inclusion: Sharpen strategies for women’s participation, child nutrition, and social security.
• Data Revolution: Improve SDG data collection at local levels for better policy targeting.
• Global Cooperation: Leverage India’s G20 presidency legacy for South–South cooperation on SDGs.

UPSC Relevance :  GS2: Government policies and interventions for development GS3: Environment, Development & Sustainability, Growth and Human Development Mains Question Practice Q: India has shown steady improvement in the Sustainable Development Goals Index, yet many structural challenges remain. Discuss the measures taken and the road ahead for achieving SDG 2030 targets.