Sustainable Development Goals India Index
Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Important Reports, Indices and Surveys · Topic 18.9
The SDG India Index is NITI Aayog's annual-style ranking of states and Union Territories on the Sustainable Development Goals, prepared with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and the United Nations in India, and first released in December 2018. It scores each state from 0 to 100 on goal-wise indicators and a composite score. The fourth edition, SDG India Index 2023-24, released in July 2024, gave India a composite score of 71, up from 57 in 2018, with Kerala and Uttarakhand first at 79, Tamil Nadu at 78 and Goa at 77, and Bihar lowest at 57, as reported.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Important Reports, Indices and Surveys
At a Glance
- Publisher NITI Aayog with MoSPI and UN in India
- First edition December 2018
- Latest verified 2023-24 (July 2024)
- India score 71 in 2023-24
- Top states Kerala and Uttarakhand, 79
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Important Reports, Indices and Surveys
Where Does It Fit?
This topic sits next to the multidimensional poverty index, as both come from NITI Aayog. The SDG goals on poverty, hunger and health connect it to the surveys covered earlier in the macro. Previous topic: Multidimensional Poverty Index (India-Specific, NITI Aayog). Next topic: Ease of Living Index.
How Is the SDG India Index Built and Classified?
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Goals covered | 16 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are scored, with Goal 17 on partnerships not scored in the same way |
| Indicators | The 2023-24 edition used about 113 indicators aligned with the National Indicator Framework of MoSPI, as reported |
| Score | Each goal and the composite are scored from 0 to 100, where 100 means the national target is met |
| Achiever | A score of 100 |
| Front-runner | A score of 65 to 99 |
| Performer | A score of 50 to 64, and below 50 is Aspirant |
What Do the Editions Show?
- 2018: The first edition gave India a composite score of 57, with Kerala at the top
- 2019-20: India scored 60, and Kerala again led
- 2020-21: India scored 66, and Kerala was first
- 2023-24: The fourth edition was released in July 2024. India scored 71, and every state was classed as a front-runner or performer, as reported
- Top states in 2023-24: Kerala and Uttarakhand at 79, Tamil Nadu at 78 and Goa at 77, as reported
- Lowest states: Bihar at 57, followed by Jharkhand at 62, as reported
- Union Territories: Chandigarh ranked highest among Union Territories, as reported
- Newer edition: No edition after 2023-24 was verified as of November 2026, so the NITI Aayog website should be checked
What Else Should You Remember?
- Purpose: The index is designed to encourage competition among states and to localise the goals, which is an example of competitive and cooperative federalism
- Data: Data comes from central ministries and surveys such as NFHS, as in National Family Health Survey (NFHS)
- Link to poverty measurement: Goal 1 on poverty is tracked through the national poverty index, as in Multidimensional Poverty Index (India-Specific, NITI Aayog)
- Global report: The Sustainable Development Report of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network ranks countries. As reported, the 2026 edition placed India at 94th out of 167 with a score of 68.3, an improvement from 99th in 2025
- Difference: The SDG India Index ranks Indian states, while the global Sustainable Development Report ranks countries, and the two are published by different bodies
- Target year: The Sustainable Development Goals under the 2030 Agenda are to be met by 2030, and they were adopted by the United Nations in 2015
- District level: NITI Aayog has also produced district-level and North Eastern Region district indices
- Role of states: States have set up SDG units and vision documents based on the index
- Goals with the biggest gains: Reports on the 2023-24 edition noted large gains in goals linked to affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, and climate action, as reported, while progress on hunger, gender equality and inequality stayed slower
- Goals needing effort: Goals on zero hunger, good health, gender equality and reduced inequalities carried lower scores in many states, which is why nutrition surveys and the hunger index are read with this index, as in Global Hunger Index (India Rank and Methodology)
- Link to missions: Programmes such as Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, Ujjwala and PM Awas Yojana push the household-level indicators that feed the goal scores
- Link to Aspirational Districts: NITI Aayog uses the index along with the Aspirational Districts Programme to guide lagging districts
- Criticism: Indicators differ across editions, so comparisons over time need care, and index design affects rank
- Common mistakes: Saying UNDP publishes the SDG India Index or that Kerala alone topped the 2023-24 edition
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Publisher: NITI Aayog with MoSPI and UN in India
- Latest: 2023-24 edition with India at 71
- Categories: Achiever, front-runner, performer and aspirant
- Toppers: Kerala and Uttarakhand at 79
- Common errors: Mixing the SDG India Index with the global SDR rank
As an analytical point, a state index works when it leads to local action, such as district plans and budgets aligned to goals. Steady, comparable data and clear targets make such an index useful and not merely a ranking.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Categories Score bands
- States Top and bottom
- SDGs Global agenda link
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Ease of Living Index. Next topic: Ease of Living Index.
Key People and Terms
- SDG Sustainable Development Goal
- Composite score Overall score across goals
- Front-runner Score 65 to 99
- Aspirant Score below 50
- Indicator Measure of progress
- Localisation Applying goals at state level
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- First edition: December 2018.
- India 2023-24: 71; 2018: 57.
- Toppers: Kerala and Uttarakhand (79).
- Front-runner: 65 to 99.
- Global SDR 2026: India 94th of 167, as reported.
Do Not Confuse With
- SDG India Index and global SDR State ranking versus country ranking
- SDG India Index and MPI Many goals versus poverty only
- Front-runner and achiever 65 to 99 versus 100
Memory Hook
Fifty-seven to seventy-one: Kerala and Uttarakhand lead, Bihar trails.
Mains Angle
Mains questions ask about competitive federalism and development goals. These points give a balanced frame.
- Gains State competition and data
- Gaps Bihar, Jharkhand
- Way District action and funds
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“How does the SDG India Index promote competitive federalism, and what does it reveal about regional disparities?”
How to Answer
- Tool State scores on goals.
- Data 71 and state spread.
- Gap Bihar and Jharkhand.
- Way District action.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SDG India Index?
The SDG India Index is NITI Aayog ranking of states and Union Territories on the Sustainable Development Goals, prepared with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and the United Nations in India. It scores each state from 0 to 100 on goals and a composite score and was first released in December 2018.
Who publishes the SDG India Index?
NITI Aayog publishes the SDG India Index, working with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and the United Nations in India. The separate Sustainable Development Report that ranks countries is published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the two should not be confused.
What is India's score in the SDG India Index 2023-24?
India's composite score in the SDG India Index 2023-24, released in July 2024, was 71, up from 66 in 2020-21 and 57 in 2018. Kerala and Uttarakhand led with 79, followed by Tamil Nadu at 78 and Goa at 77, while Bihar scored lowest at 57, as reported.
What are the categories in the SDG India Index?
The categories are Achiever for a score of 100, Front-runner for 65 to 99, Performer for 50 to 64 and Aspirant for below 50. In the 2023-24 edition all states fell in the performer or front-runner groups, as reported, showing the lift from the early editions.
What is India's rank in the global Sustainable Development Report?
As reported, the 2026 Sustainable Development Report of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network ranked India 94th out of 167 countries with a score of 68.3, up from 99th in 2025. It is a separate global ranking and not a NITI Aayog publication.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The SDG India Index is published by UNDP.
It is published by NITI Aayog.
2 A state with a score of 65 to 99 is a front-runner.
Achiever needs 100.
3 Kerala and Uttarakhand jointly topped the 2023-24 edition.
Both scored 79.
4 The first SDG India Index was released in 2018.
In December 2018.
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