An Insight into NITI Aayog's SDG India Index

  • The SDG India Index is a monitoring tool developed by NITI Aayog to track India's performance towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations.
  • The index functions as a policy-making benchmark to identify gaps and highlight key focal areas for achieving sustainable development by 2030.
  • The Index is based on an analysis of 113 indicators aligned with national priorities, with scores ranging from 0 to 100.
  • NITI Aayog's SDG India Index fosters a sense of competitive and cooperative federalism, spurring states and UTs for progress based on their individual scores which range from 'Aspirant' to 'Achiever'.

Analysing the Performance Trends in the SDG India Index 2023-24

  • India's overall SDG score witnessed significant growth, rising from 57 in 2018 to 71 in 2023-24.
  • Kerala and Uttarakhand led the way as the highest performing states, while Bihar and Jharkhand secured the lowest scores.
  • Significant government interventions have propelled progress in various areas such as poverty reduction, economic growth and climate action.

Unpacking the Critical Goals of SDG India Index 2023-24

  • The Index saw an impressive growth in goals like "No Poverty," "Decent Work and Economic Growth," and "Life on Land."
  • Conversely, "Gender Equality" and "Peace, Justice, and Strong Institution" experienced minor increments whereas "Reduced Inequalities" witnessed a slight downturn.
  • "Quality of Education" goal highlighted that the central Indian states still face educational quality challenges that directly impact employment opportunities.

Discovering NITI Aayog and its Role in Economic Strategy

  • NITI Aayog, which replaced the Planning Commission in 2015, advocates a 'bottom-up' approach, emphasising cooperative federalism.
  • The Aayog comprises the Prime Minister as Chairperson, Chief Ministers of all states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories in the Governing Council, along with experts nominated by the Prime Minister as Special Invitees.
  • The Aayog is instrumental in introducing a flexible approach to economic planning, incorporating national security and focusing on hitherto marginalised sections of society.
  • Major initiatives by the Aayog include the SDG India Index and Composite Water Management Index, among others, exemplifying its critical role in directing the country towards sustainable development.

GK Section: Tracing the Evolution of NITI Aayog and its Impact

  • The Planning Commission's relaunch as NITI Aayog in 2015 signals a paradigm shift in India's approach to economic planning.
  • The integral inclusion of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of states and Union Territory Lt. Governors in its composition signals the emphasis on cooperative federalism.
  • NITI Aayog focuses on promoting sustainable development practices, thus assisting India in meeting its goals on the global competitiveness index.
  • The SDG India Index is among the Aayog's key initiatives towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.
  • The Index serves as a significant indicator for India's developmental progress and pinpoints targeted areas for corrective policy interventions.