• The 4th edition of the SDG India Index 2023-24, released by NITI Aayog, serves as the country’s principal tool for measuring national and subnational progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

India’s Commitment to the SDGs

• Since adopting the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, India has demonstrated a strong commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), spearheaded by NITI Aayog. 
• The organization has been pivotal in localizing the SDGs, working closely with States and UTs to institutionalize these goals within national and subnational development frameworks. 
• It promotes competitive and cooperative federalism, aiming to integrate sustainable development into broader developmental thinking through institutional ownership, capacity development, and a whole-of-society approach.

Key Highlights and Achievements of the Report

National Progress:

• Composite Score Improvement: India’s composite score improved from 57 in 2018 to 71 in 2023-24.
• Significant Advancements: Noteworthy progress was observed in Goals 1 (No Poverty), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 13 (Climate Action), which are now in the 'Front Runner' category (scores between 65-99).

Specific Goals:

• Goal 13 (Climate Action): Saw the most substantial improvement, with its score increasing from 54 to 67.
• Goal 1 (No Poverty): Improved significantly from 60 to 72, highlighting effective programmatic interventions and schemes.
• Other Key Goals: Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) also showed substantial progress.

Government Initiatives and Interventions

• Several government interventions have facilitated significant progress towards the SDGs:
• Housing and Sanitation: Over 4 crore houses were built under the PM Awas Yojana (PMAY), and 11 crore toilets and 2.23 lakh Community Sanitary Complexes were constructed in rural areas.
• Clean Energy: 10 crore LPG connections were provided under PM Ujjwala Yojana, and solar power capacity increased from 2.82 GW to 73.32 GW over the past decade.
• Water and Health: Tap water connections were provided to over 14.9 crore households under the Jal Jeevan Mission, and over 30 crore beneficiaries were covered under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
• Economic Growth: The PM Mudra Yojana sanctioned 43 crore loans, and the Skill India Mission trained over 1.4 crore youth.

State and UT Performance

• The Index reported a positive trend in the performance of States and UTs, with scores for States now ranging from 57 to 79, and UTs between 65 and 77. 
• Uttarakhand and Kerala have tied as the top-performing states with a score of 79 and On the other hand, Bihar (57), Jharkhand (62), and Nagaland (63) were the worst-performing states in this year's index.
• Among UTs, the top five performers were Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Delhi.

Methodology and Impact

• It  methodology involves compiling raw data for selected indicators, identifying data gaps, establishing 2030 target values, normalizing data into scores, and computing composite scores. 
• This edition evaluates the performance of all States and Union Territories (UTs) using 113 indicators aligned with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s (MoSPI) National Indicator Framework (NIF). 
• The Index assigns goal-wise scores on the 16 SDGs to each State and UT, generating overall composite scores that reflect their aggregate performance across these goals. Scores range from 0 to 100, with 100 indicating the achievement of targets.

Importance of Index

• The SDG India Index 2023-24 is not only a measure of national and subnational progress but also a tool for fostering collaborative competition among States and UTs. 
• NITI Aayog’s commitment to supporting the localization and acceleration of the SDGs underscores the broader vision of achieving a Viksit Bharat by 2047. 
• The progress demonstrated in the Index provides valuable lessons for other countries pursuing sustainable development, showcasing the transformative impact of targeted interventions and collaborative efforts.