The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They aim to end poverty, reduce inequality, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all. The UN describes SDGs as an urgent call for action by both developed and developing countries through global partnership.
The SDGs replaced the Millennium Development Goals and widened the development agenda. They include 17 goals and 169 targets, covering poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water, clean energy, decent work, infrastructure, inequality, sustainable cities, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace and partnerships.
India has aligned many of its development plans with SDGs. NITI Aayog acts as the nodal agency for SDG monitoring and publishes the SDG India Index to promote competitive and cooperative federalism among States and UTs. India’s SDG score improved from 57 in 2018 to 66 in 2020-21 and 71 in 2023-24, showing steady progress.
India’s development plans meeting SDG requirements:
- SDG 1: No Poverty: Schemes like PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, MGNREGA, PM Awas Yojana and Jan Dhan accounts support poverty reduction and social security.
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger: NFSA covers more than 80 crore people, while Poshan Abhiyaan targets malnutrition among children, women and adolescent girls.
- SDG 3: Good Health: Ayushman Bharat, Health and Wellness Centres, Mission Indradhanush and PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission improve healthcare access. India’s SDG health score improved from 52 in 2018 to 77 in 2023-24.
- SDG 4 and 5: Education and Gender Equality: NEP 2020, Samagra Shiksha, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and women’s reservation in local bodies support inclusive education and gender justice.
- SDG 6 and 7: Water, Sanitation and Energy: Swachh Bharat Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission, Saubhagya and Ujjwala Yojana improved toilets, tap water, electricity and clean cooking fuel access.
- SDG 8 and 9: Growth and Infrastructure: Make in India, Startup India, Skill India, PM Gati Shakti, Digital India and PLI schemes aim at employment, innovation and infrastructure.
- SDG 11, 13 and 15: Sustainable cities, climate action and biodiversity: Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, National Action Plan on Climate Change, renewable energy expansion and Mission LiFE support environmental sustainability. India’s renewable-energy share in electricity generation improved from 36.37% in 2020 to 43.28% in 2024.
However, gaps remain. India still faces challenges in malnutrition, learning outcomes, urban pollution, gender inequality, unemployment, regional imbalance and climate vulnerability. The SDG India Index notes that Gender Equality remains one of the weakest areas, while Reduced Inequalities declined from 67 in 2020-21 to 65 in 2023-24.
Conclusion
Thus, India’s development plans broadly meet SDG requirements through welfare schemes, infrastructure growth, digital governance and climate action. However, achieving SDGs by 2030 requires faster progress in nutrition, gender equality, quality education, inequality reduction and environmental protection. India must follow a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” approach to make development inclusive, sustainable and people-centred.
