Why in News: India’s performance in the SDG Index 2025 improved to rank 99/167, reflecting steady progress. Yet, SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) remains a critical challenge, with India off-track on several indicators.
Current Status
- Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): 97 per 100,000 live births (Target: 70).
- Under-five Mortality Rate: 32 per 1,000 live births (Target: 25).
- Life Expectancy: 70 years (Target: 73.6).
- Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE): 13% of household consumption (Target: <8%).
- Immunisation: 93% coverage (Target: 100%).
Challenges
1. Infrastructure Deficit: Unequal health facilities across rural–urban and tribal regions.
2. Socio-economic Barriers: Poverty, malnutrition, and inadequate sanitation.
3. Cultural Stigma: Poor awareness about reproductive and mental health.
4. Financial Burden: High OOPE due to limited insurance penetration.
Way Forward
- Universal Health Insurance: Reduce catastrophic expenditure, improve equity.
- Strengthen Primary Health Systems: Ensure coordination with secondary and tertiary care; integrate digital health tools like telemedicine and e-records.
- School-based Health Education: Embed nutrition, hygiene, reproductive health, and mental well-being in curricula. International examples (Finland, Japan) show long-term gains.
- Community Awareness: Parents and civil society must reinforce healthy behaviour and demand curriculum reform.
Conclusion
India’s improved SDG rank is encouraging, but only 17% of global SDG targets are on track for 2030. Accelerating SDG 3 requires universal health coverage, robust primary care, and health education. Embedding preventive health in education today will not only meet SDG 3 but also lay the foundation for Viksit Bharat 2047.
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper II (Governance, Health, Social Justice): Universal health coverage, role of state in health policy, SDG alignment.
Mains Practice Question
Q. “India’s progress on SDG 3 reflects achievements in access to services but continued gaps in health outcomes. Discuss the major challenges and suggest a three-pronged strategy to achieve the goal by 2030.”