India’s performance regarding the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains concerning. The recent State of States report, released on February 27, 2025, during the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2025, marks gaps in achieving these goals. While India is home to over 1.4 billion people, its progress is lagging behind the global average in nine out of 16 SDGs.
Overview of Sustainable Development Goals
The SDGs consist of 17 goals aimed at addressing global challenges, including poverty, inequality, and climate change. The goals are interconnected and require comprehensive strategies for effective implementation. India’s performance is evaluated based on various indicators, which reflect the country’s commitment to achieving these targets.
Current Status of SDGs in India
According to the report, all 36 state of Indias and Union territories (UTs) have met at least half of the targets in only four SDGs – – SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being – SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation – SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy – SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth SDG 14, concerning marine life, was excluded as it only pertains to coastal states.
Indicators and Data Gaps
The report reveals critical data gaps in India’s SDG framework. For instance, under SDG 1 (No Poverty), the indicator for eradicating extreme poverty has been omitted. In SDG 6, there is no measure for water quality. Furthermore, SDG 7 lacks global indicators for carbon emissions and renewable energy usage. SDG 11 does not account for air quality and public transport, while SDG 12 ignores electronic waste management.
Challenges Across States
The report puts stress on that all states and UTs face challenges in meeting SDG indicators. States like Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu show fewer lagging indicators but still struggle with one in every six indicators. Conversely, populous states such as Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have met less than half of the targets in percentage of SDG indicators.
Data Sources and Methodology
The insights presented in the report are derived from three primary data sources: 1. The “Sustainable Development Report 2024” from Dublin University. 2. The “SDG Index 2023-24” by NITI Aayog. 3. Population projections from the National Commission on Population. These sources provide a comprehensive overview of India’s standing in the global context and its state-wise performance.
Future Prospects
As India approaches the 2030 deadline for achieving the SDGs, the report raises critical questions about the country’s ability to accelerate progress and address existing gaps. The need for enhanced data collection and reporting mechanisms is paramount to ensure accountability and transparency in meeting these global goals.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically discuss the importance of Sustainable Development Goals in combating global issues.
- Examine the role of data accuracy in assessing a country’s progress on Sustainable Development Goals.
- Analyse the impact of urbanisation on achieving Sustainable Development Goals in developing countries.
- Point out the challenges faced by India in addressing climate change and its implications for Sustainable Development Goals.
Answer Hints:
1. Critically discuss the importance of Sustainable Development Goals in combating global issues.
- SDGs provide a universal framework for addressing pressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
- They promote international cooperation and partnerships to achieve common objectives.
- SDGs encourage sustainable economic growth and environmental protection, ensuring resources for future generations.
- They help in measuring progress through specific indicators, allowing for accountability among nations.
- SDGs encourage inclusivity by addressing the needs of marginalized communities and promoting social equity.
2. Examine the role of data accuracy in assessing a country’s progress on Sustainable Development Goals.
- Accurate data is essential for setting benchmarks and measuring progress towards SDGs effectively.
- Data gaps can lead to misinterpretations of a country’s performance and hinder targeted interventions.
- Reliable data collection enhances transparency and accountability in governance and policy-making.
- Data accuracy aids in identifying specific areas needing improvement, enabling focused resource allocation.
- It supports international comparisons, helping countries learn from each other’s successes and challenges.
3. Analyse the impact of urbanisation on achieving Sustainable Development Goals in developing countries.
- Urbanisation can drive economic growth and innovation, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
- However, rapid urbanisation often leads to increased inequality and environmental degradation, challenging SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
- Inadequate infrastructure and services in urban areas can hinder access to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6).
- Urbanisation may exacerbate climate vulnerabilities, impacting SDG 13 (Climate Action).
- Effective urban planning is crucial to leverage benefits while mitigating negative consequences on SDGs.
4. Point out the challenges faced by India in addressing climate change and its implications for Sustainable Development Goals.
- India faces high vulnerability to climate impacts, including extreme weather events, affecting food security and health (SDG 2 and SDG 3).
- Data gaps in climate-related indicators hinder effective policy formulation and implementation (SDG 13).
- Economic reliance on fossil fuels complicates the transition to renewable energy (SDG 7).
- Poverty and inequality exacerbate climate impacts, making it difficult to achieve SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
- Coordination among various levels of government and sectors is necessary for a comprehensive climate action strategy.
