Karnataka ranks third with three other States

New Delhi: Kerala has retained the top spot while Bihar is at the bottom of NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2020-21 which was released on Thursday.

While Kerala retained the top spot with a score of 75, both Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are at the second rank with a score of 74 and Karnataka (72) stood third along with few other States. Assam (57), Jharkhand (56) and Bihar (52) are the worst-performing States this year.

First launched in December 2018, the index has become the primary tool for monitoring progress on the SDGs in the country and has simultaneously fostered competition among the states and Union Territories (UTs) by ranking them on the Global Goals.

NITI Aayog has the twin mandate to oversee the adoption and monitoring of the SDGs in the country and also promote competitive and cooperative federalism among the States.

The index represents the articulation of the comprehensive nature of the Global Goals under the 2030 Agenda while being attuned to the national priorities. The modular nature of the index has become a policy tool and a ready reckoner for gauging progress of States on the expansive nature of goals including health, education, gender, economic growth, institutions, climate change and environment.

NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Dr. Rajiv Kumar launched the report titled, SDG India Index and Dashboard 2020-21: Partnerships in the Decade of Action, in the presence of Dr. Vinod Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog and Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (SDGs), NITI Aayog.

“Our effort of monitoring SDGs through the SDG India Index & Dashboard continues to be widely noticed and applauded around the world. It remains a rare data-driven initiative to rank our States and Union Territories by computing a composite index on the SDGs. We are confident that it will remain a matter of aspiration and emulation and help propel monitoring efforts at the international level,” Dr. Kumar said during the launch.

With one-third of the journey towards achieving the 2030 Agenda behind us, this edition of the index report focuses on the significance of partnerships as its theme, he added. 

Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, said: “The report reflects on the partnerships we have built and strengthened during our SDG efforts. The narrative throws light on how collaborative initiatives can result in better outcomes and greater impacts.”

On the theme of partnerships which is central to Goal 17, Dr.  Paul said, “It is clear that by working together we can build a more resilient and sustainable future, where no one is left behind.”

“From covering 13 Goals with 62 indicators in its first edition in 2018, the third edition covers 16 Goals on 115 quantitative indicators, with a qualitative assessment on Goal 17, thereby reflecting our continuous efforts towards refining this important tool,” said Samaddar, Adviser (SDGs), NITI Aayog.

The Index, developed in collaboration with the United Nations in India, measures the progress at the national and sub-national level in the country’s journey towards meeting the Global Goals and targets and has been successful as an advocacy tool to propagate the messages of sustainability, resilience, and partnerships, as well. 

From covering 13 Goals, 39 targets and 62 indicators in the first edition in 2018-19 to 17 Goals, 54 targets and 100 indicators in the second; this third edition of the index covers 17 Goals, 70 targets and 115 indicators.