SDG India Index 2019

NITI Aayog has released its latest SDG India Index 2019, which assesses each state and Union Territory’s achievement on 16 sustainable development goals (SDG).

About the Index

• The SDG India Index 2019 tracks progress of all States and UTs on 100 indicators drawn from the MoSPI’s National Indicator Framework (NIF).
• Each of the 16 SDGs — ranging from good health to quality education, gender equality, and climate action — comprise several indicators, with the number of these varying from SDG to SDG.
• Scores are given for a state or UT on each SDG.
• The composite score for each state or UT is computed by aggregating their performance across these goals, and then by taking the arithmetic mean of individual goal scores.
• A score of 100 implies that the state/ UT has achieved targets set for 2030.

Classification criteria based on SDG India Index score is as follows:

• Aspirant: 0–49
• Performer: 50–64
• Front Runner: 65–99
• Achiever: 100

States performance

• Kerala is in the top slot with a score of 70, while Bihar is at the bottom with 50.
• Following Kerala’s composite score of 70, Himachal Pradesh took the second spot with a score of 69 while Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana shared the third spot with each scoring 67.
• There are eight states in the highest bracket, called frontrunners, with scores in the range 65-99.
• Behind Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, the other states in this category are Karnataka (66), Sikkim (65) and Goa (65).
• Two UTs, Chandigarh and Puducherry, scored in this range.

Back2Basics

Sustainable Development Goals

• The UN General Assembly in its 70^thSession considered and adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the next 15 years.
• The 17 SDGs came into force with effect from 1^stJanuary, 2016.
• Though not legally binding, the SDGs have become de facto international obligations and have potential to reorient domestic spending priorities of the countries during the next fifteen years.
• Countries are expected to take ownership and establish a national framework for achieving these Goals.
• Implementation and success will rely on countries’ own sustainable development policies, plans and programmes.