SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) | Ministry of Corporate Affairs
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 31, 2025, to develop a Comprehensive SDG Alignment Framework. This collaborative initiative is central to achieving the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat.
The goal is to integrate National, State, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) indicators. The framework will build upon the existing National Indicator Framework (NIF), aligning state-level indicators with national priorities and ensuring that corporate CSR and ESG initiatives are effectively synchronized with the SDG objectives of States and Union Territories.
This harmonization is intended to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and foster sustainable corporate participation. By bridging national, state, and corporate sustainability frameworks, the alignment will ensure a coherent and inclusive monitoring and implementation system for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Linking private sector reporting directly to national and state SDG metrics, the framework aims to maximize the collective impact of corporate spending, ensuring private capital effectively accelerates India’s national development agenda.
What is the National Indicator Framework (NIF)? → The National Indicator Framework (NIF) is the official set of metrics and statistics used by the Indian government (under MoSPI) to monitor, measure, and report on the country’s progress toward achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. It serves as the cornerstone for evidence-based policymaking across all SDG-related development initiatives in India. The new MoSPI-IICA framework acts as the bridge to formally connect the corporate data (ESG/CSR) with the government’s statistical goals (NIF).
What are Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Indicators→ ESG indicators are a measurement framework used primarily by investors and regulators to assess a company’s non-financial performance and long-term sustainability risks. They divide a company’s impact into three categories: Environmental (e.g., carbon emissions, water use, and waste generation), Social (e.g., employee safety, labor standards, and community engagement), and Governance (e.g., board diversity, anti-corruption policies, and executive pay). These indicators are crucial in India for reporting under frameworks like the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) and are seen as essential for managing financial risks and attracting long-term capital.
What are Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Indicators→ CSR indicators measure a company’s compliance with its legal and ethical obligation to contribute to societal development, often through philanthropy or dedicated community projects. In India, CSR is formally governed by the Companies Act, 2013, which mandates that large companies spend a minimum of 2% of their average net profit on specified social and environmental activities. The indicators track the amount of profit spent, the thematic focus of the projects (such as education or healthcare), and the geographic location of the initiative, ensuring private sector money is channeled toward national development priorities.
What is Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA)? → The IICA is the premier, autonomous think tank and training institute under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), established to support the corporate sector and the government. It functions as a hub for research, capacity building, and policy advice across key areas like Corporate Law, Insolvency and Bankruptcy, Corporate Governance, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The IICA’s mandate is to uphold ethical business standards and provide expertise that aligns corporate functioning and growth with India’s national economic and development goals
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What specific mechanisms will the joint framework use to convert voluntary ESG and CSR corporate disclosure into verifiable data for MoSPI’s national SDG monitoring dashboard?
Follow the full news here: MoSPI signs MoU with IICA