India breaks into top 100 of SDG Index for the first time

🟢 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — India in Top 100 (2025)

📌 Context

• India ranked 99th out of 167 countries in the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025, prepared by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
• First time India has entered Top 100 in the SDG Index.
• Score: 67
• Previous Ranks:
  • 2024 – 109
  • 2023 – 112
  • 2022 – 121
  • 2021 – 120

📊 Global Comparison

• China: 49th (74.4)
• USA: 44th (75.2)
• Neighbours:
  • Bhutan – 74th (70.5)
  • Nepal – 85th (68.6)
  • Bangladesh – 114th (63.9)
  • Pakistan – 140th (57)
  • Maldives – 53rd
  • Sri Lanka – 93rd

🌍 Global Trends

• Only 17% of SDG targets on track to be achieved by 2030.
• Reasons for slowdown: conflicts, structural vulnerabilities, limited fiscal space.
• Top performers: Finland, Sweden, Denmark (Europe dominates top 20).
• Fastest regional progress: East & South Asia.
• Major gainers since 2015: Nepal, Cambodia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Benin, Peru, UAE, Uzbekistan, Costa Rica, Saudi Arabia.

⚠️ Areas of Concern (Global)

• Regressing indicators:
  • Obesity (SDG 2)
  • Press freedom (SDG 16)
  • Sustainable nitrogen management (SDG 2)
  • Biodiversity loss (Red List Index, SDG 15)
  • Corruption perceptions (SDG 16)

💰 Policy Angle

• Report urges reform of global financial architecture (GFA) at FfD4 Conference (Seville, Spain, June 30–July 3, 2025).
• Highlights: Capital flows prefer rich nations, less access for Emerging and Developing Economies (EMDEs).

🟢 India’s Progress in Health-related SDGs (MMR, U5MR, NMR)

📌 Data Source

• Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021 — Registrar General of India.
• Health Ministry’s statement (May 2025).

📊 Achievements

States that achieved SDG target in all three (MMR, U5MR, NMR):

• Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu

MMR (Target ≤70 by 2030)

• Achieved by 8 states: Kerala (20), Maharashtra (38), Telangana (45), Andhra Pradesh (46), Tamil Nadu (49), Jharkhand (51), Gujarat (53), Karnataka (63)

U5MR (Target ≤25 by 2030)

• Achieved by 12 states/UTs: Kerala (8), Delhi (14), Tamil Nadu (14), J&K (16), Maharashtra (16), WB (20), Karnataka (21), Punjab (22), Telangana (22), HP (23), AP (24), Gujarat (24)

NMR (Target ≤12 by 2030)

• Achieved by 6 states/UTs: Kerala (4), Delhi (8), Tamil Nadu (9), Maharashtra (11), J&K (12), HP (12)

📈 National Trends

• MMR: fell from 130 (2014-16) to 93 (2019-21) → ↓37 points
• IMR: 39 (2014) → 27 (2021)
• NMR: 26 (2014) → 19 (2021)
• U5MR: 45 (2014) → 31 (2021)
• Sex Ratio at Birth: 899 (2014) → 913 (2021)
• TFR: 2.3 (2014) → 2.0 (2021)

📊 Global Comparison

• India’s decline (1990–2023):
  • MMR: ↓86% (global ↓48%)
  • U5MR: ↓78% (global ↓61%)
  • NMR: ↓70% (global ↓54%)
  • IMR: ↓71% (global ↓58%)

🏥 Policy Interventions

• Free institutional delivery (including C-sections), free transport, medication, diagnostics, nutrition in public health facilities
• Use of antenatal corticosteroids for preterm labour
• Use of CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) for newborns
• Structured follow-up (hearing & vision screening)
• Real-time digital surveillance & health data systems
• Supporting ~300 lakh pregnancies and 260 lakh live births annually

📌 Key Takeaways for UPSC

• India entered Top 100 in SDG Index (Rank 99, Score 67) in 2025 — Major milestone.
• Significant progress in health-related SDGs (MMR, U5MR, NMR) — Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu leading.
• Global SDG progress stagnating — only 17% targets on track.
• Highlights India’s rapid improvement vs global averages, showing policy effectiveness.
  
  
  Updated - June 24, 2025 09:49 pm  | The Hindu