Why in the News?

India has entered the top 100 in the Sustainable Development Report (2025), ranking 99th out of 167 countries, according to the UN-backed Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). This shows a clear improvement from its 110th position in 2016, marking a notable step forward.

What does India’s SDG ranking improvement show?

India moved into the top 100 of the Sustainable Development Report for the first time since 2016, reaching rank 99 out of 167 countries.
The improvement reflects progress in poverty reduction (SDG 1), infrastructure (SDG 9), electricity access (SDG 7), and digital inclusion.

Why is Zero Hunger still a challenge for India?

Persistent Child Malnutrition: A significant portion of Indian children still suffer from undernutrition. Eg: As per NFHS-5 (2019–21), 35.5% of children under five were stunted, only slightly better than 38.4% in NFHS-4 (2015–16).
Widening Dietary Disparities: Access to a nutritious diet remains unequal across income and geographic lines. Eg: Rural and low-income households often rely on calorie-dense than nutrient-poor food, while wealthier urban populations have better diet diversity.
Rising Dual Burden of Malnutrition: India is witnessing a simultaneous increase in obesity and undernutrition. Eg: Between 2006 and 2021, obesity among adults aged 15–49 almost doubled, especially in urban areas, showing nutritional imbalance.

Which SDG areas show strong and weak performance?

Strong Performance:

SDG 1 – No Poverty: Significant progress in reducing poverty levels. Eg: Poverty rate declined from 22% in 2012 (NSSO) to about 12% in 2023 (World Bank).
SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy: Near-universal household electrification and renewable energy expansion. Eg: India is the 4th largest in renewable energy capacity (solar and wind).
SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Rapid growth in digital connectivity and financial inclusion. Eg: UPI-driven digital payment infrastructure and mobile network penetration.

Weak Performance:

SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: High levels of malnutrition and dietary inequality persist. Eg: 35.5% of children under five are stunted (NFHS-5, 2019–21).
SDG 4 – Quality Education: Uneven access to education and digital learning across regions. Eg: COVID-19 widened learning gaps between rural and urban students.
SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Challenges in governance, rule of law, and press freedom. Eg: India ranks low in global indices measuring institutional strength.

What are the steps taken by the Indian Government?

POSHAN Abhiyaan: Launched to reduce malnutrition, stunting, and anemia among children and womenthrough better nutrition and health services. It supports SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.
Digital India and UPI Initiatives: Aimed at increasing digital access, financial inclusion, and service delivery, especially in rural and remote areas. It supports SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
PM-KUSUM and Solar Missions: Promote renewable energy and sustainable farming by enabling farmers to adopt solar-powered pumps and panels. It supports SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 13: Climate Action.

How can India improve in governance-related SDGs? (Way forward)

Strengthen Institutional Transparency and Accountability: Ensure timely delivery of justice, reduce corruption, and make public institutions more responsive. Eg: Implementing police and judicial reforms, and enhancing public grievance redressal mechanisms.
Promote Press Freedom and Civic Participation: Safeguard freedom of expression, support independent media, and encourage public engagement in policymaking. Eg: Enforcing laws that protect journalists and fostering platforms for inclusive civic dialogue.

Mains PYQ:

[UPSC 2021] What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India?

Linkage: This focuses on the main goal of ending hunger and malnutrition, which is the heart of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). The article says that SDG 2 is still a major concern in India, even though there has been progress in other areas. So, it’s important to examine how well policies like the National Food Security Act are working.

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