SDG India Index 2020-21 by NITI Aayog

Recently, the Third edition of the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) India Index and Dashboard 2020–21 was released by NITI Aayog.

• The third edition covers 16 Goals on 115 quantitative indicators, with a qualitative assessment on Goal 17, and cover 70 SDG targets.

• The index has become the primary tool for monitoring progress on the SDGs in the country.

• It has simultaneously fostered competition among the States and Union Territories.

• The SDG India Index 2020–21 is developed in collaboration with the United Nations in India.

Titled: “SDG India Index and Dashboard 2020–21: Partnerships in the Decade of Action”

About:

• NITI Aayog was launched first SDG India Index in December 2018, the index has become the primary tool for monitoring progress on the SDGs in the country and has simultaneously fostered competition among the States and Union Territories.

• The first 2018–19 and second 2019–20 editions of the index, which had utilised 62 indicators across 39 targets and 13 Goals, and 100 indicators across 54 targets and 16 Goals, respectively.

• NITI Aayog has the twin mandate to oversee the adoption and monitoring of the SDGs in the country, and also promote competitive and cooperative federalism among States and UTs.

• The index represents the articulation of the comprehensive nature of the Global Goals under the 2030 Agenda while being attuned to the national priorities.

• The SDG India Index 2020–21 is more robust than the previous editions on account of wider coverage of targets and indicators with greater alignment with the NIF.

 

Methodology:

• Overall State and UT scores are generated from goal-wise scores to measure aggregate performance of the sub-national unit based on its performance across the 16 SDGs.
• These scores range between 0–100, and if a State/UT achieves a score of 100, it signifies it has achieved the 2030 targets.
  
• The higher the score of a State/UT, the greater the distance to target achieved.

States and Union Territories are classified as below based on their SDG India Index score:
• Aspirant: 0–49
• Performer: 50–64
• Front-Runner: 65–99
• Achiever: 100
 

 

Significance:

The index represents the articulation of the comprehensive nature of the Global Goals under the 2030 Agenda while being attuned to the national priorities.
 
The modular nature of the index has become a policy tool and a ready reckoner for gauging progress of States and UTs on the expansive nature of goals including health, education, gender, economic growth, institutions, climate change and environment.
 
The index has also been successful in driving the SDG agenda in the country by encouraging the development of State SDG vision documents and roadmaps, State and District Indicator Frameworks and in the institution of robust review and follow-up systems.
 

States and UTs Performance:

 
Top States:
Kerala with score of 75
Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh, both scoring 72.
 
Bottom States:
 
Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam were the worst performing States.
 
 

Gainer States:

Mizoram, Haryana, and Uttarakhand are the top gainers in 2020–21 ain terms of improvement in score from 2019, with an increase of 12, 10 and 8 points, respectively.

SDG India Index Develop in the line of UN SDG Report:

• The UN General Assembly in 2015 considered and adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the next 15 years.
• The 17 SDGs and 169 indicators came into force with effect from 1st January 2016.
• SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
• Implementation and success will rely on countries’ own sustainable development policies, plans and programmes.
• India ranked 117 with 61.92 score in UN SDG Index 2020.

Source: PIB