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. |
