Uttarakhand and Kerala Lead NITI Aayog's SDG India Index 2023-24

Uttarakhand and Kerala have topped NITI Aayog's SDG India Index 2023-24, measuring social, economic, and environmental progress among states and union territories. India's overall score rose to 71, with significant gains in poverty elimination, economic growth, and climate action. Bihar remains the worst performer.

Uttarakhand and Kerala have emerged as the top performer states in NITI Aayog's SDG India Index 2023-24, evaluating progress on social, economic, and environmental parameters. Bihar, meanwhile, was adjudged the worst performer.

The SDG India Index 2023-24 reports India's overall Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) score increased to 71 from 66 in 2020-21. This improvement is attributed to significant progress in areas such as poverty elimination, economic growth, climate action, and life on land.

Uttarakhand and Kerala led the rankings with a score of 79, followed by Tamil Nadu (78) and Goa (77). Contrarily, Bihar (57), Jharkhand (62), and Nagaland (63) were the laggards. Among union territories, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Delhi were top performers.

NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam highlighted that targeted government intervention has driven improvements across 16 SDG goals. He stated that India is on track and often ahead in achieving most SDG targets, with aspirations to meet some goals before 2030.

However, the index notes India's score is below 50 for 'Goal 5' (gender equality).

(With inputs from agencies.)