Uttarakhand, Kerala retain top rank in NITI Aayog's SDG India Index 2023-24, know where other states rank

New Delhi: Uttarakhand and Kerala have emerged as the top-performing states in the SDG India Index 2023-24, released by NITI Aayog, evaluating progress across social, economic, and environmental parameters. In contrast, Bihar has been identified as the lowest performer among states.

India's overall Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) score has risen to 71 in 2023-24, marking an increase from 66 in 2020-21. The growth is attributed to advancements in poverty eradication, economic growth, climate action, and biodiversity conservation.

Top and worst performers

Uttarakhand and Kerala jointly secured the highest score of 79, followed closely by Tamil Nadu (78) and Goa (77). Conversely, Bihar recorded the lowest score of 57, with Jharkhand (62) and Nagaland (63) also ranking among the lowest performers in this year's assessment.

Union territories and overall progress

Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Delhi were recognized as the top five performing union territories.

Government's reaction and strategic goals

NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam acknowledged targeted government interventions as pivotal to India's progress across the 16 SDG goals. He emphasized India's leadership role in achieving SDG targets ahead of schedule, particularly in crucial areas.

The report highlighted substantial improvement in climate action (Goal 13) and poverty eradication (Goal 1), underpinning the impact of focused government initiatives and programs nationwide.

National and sub-national progress

The fourth edition of the SDG India Index tracked progress across 113 indicators, demonstrating significant improvements nationwide since the baseline report in 2018.

Key government initiatives contributing to SDG achievements include the construction of over 4 crore houses under PM Awas Yojana, distribution of 11 crore toilets, and provision of 10 crore LPG connections under PM Ujjwala Yojana. Additionally, over 14.9 crore households received tap water connections through the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Impact and advocacy

Launched in December 2018, the SDG India Index has evolved into a critical tool for monitoring and advocating sustainable development practices at national and sub-national levels. It fosters healthy competition among states and union territories, driving progress towards global sustainability goals. Developed in collaboration with the United Nations, the index underscores India's commitment to sustainability, resilience, and global partnerships.