By : Satyaki Paul
On June 3 2021, the NITI Aayog has launched the third edition of India’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Index i.e., SDG India Index 3.0. This Index records the progression induced by the states and union territories towards achieving 2030 SDG targets.
The Index is developed through a joint venture of NITI Aayog, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), United Nations (UN) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). This Index was first launched in 2018 for covering only 13 goals, 39 targets and 62 indicators, however, the third edition covers 17 goals, 70 targets and 115 indicators. Thereby this index seeks to induce an environment of competitive federalism among the states and UTs by ranking them on such global goals, targets and indicators.
To calculate the Index, a composite score was figured in the range of 0–100 for each state/UTs based on its aggregate performance across 16 SDGs. Therefore, higher the score of a state/UTs, the closer it is towards achieving the 2030 national targets. The states /UTs are classified based on the SDG India Index Score as follows: Aspirant: 0–49; Performer: 50–64; Front Runner: 65–99; and Achiever: 100. With a composite score of 75 Kerala surpassed every state/UTs in the NITI Aayog’s 2020 Index, based on the state’s performance across 16 SDGs.
The latest findings of the NITI Aayog’s SDG Index are mentioned-below in relation to the goal-wise top states/UTs:
- Goal 1: No Poverty—Tamil Nadu, Delhi;
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger—Kerala, Chandigarh;
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being—Gujarat, Delhi;
- Goal 4: Quality Education—Kerala, Chandigarh;
- Goal 5: Gender Equality—Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands;
- Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation—Goa, Lakshadweep;
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy—Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh.
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh.
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure—Gujarat, Delhi.
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequality—Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh;
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities—Punjab, Chandigarh;
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production—Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh;
- Goal 13: Climate Action—Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar Islands;
- Goal 14: Life Below Water—Odisha;
- Goal 15: Life on Land—Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh;
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions—Uttarakhand, Puducherry;
These indicators are aligned with National Indicator Framework (NIF) of MoSPI wherein the data generated helps in identifying real-time gaps related to the tracking of development of states and UTs towards achieving SDGs in the ground level. This will be done through developing actions, policies in line with UN SDG framework. However, economic measures were kept out for the SDG India Index 3.0, rather special emphasis was laid upon social equality indicators and level of crime against SC/ST communities, etc. The single economic indicator used in the third edition was the percentage of population in the lowest two wealth quintiles.
If proper calculation was done, then it would be evident that wages and industrial growth has hit a stage of stagflation due to the persisting COVID19 pandemic. Our country’s score on the SDG related to industry and infrastructure fell 10 points to 55, whereas the scores on decent work fell 3-points to 61. Furthermore, the Clean Water and Sanitation SDG also saw a 5-pointfall, in spite of flagship government schemes in this sector such as Swachh Bharat Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission, etc. Nonetheless, on a positive note the SDGs on eradication of poverty and hunger both saw substantialadvancement in several states/UTs of India. The author works as a Ph.D. Research Scholar at the Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta, and the co-author of the book Anthropology For All (2021).