SDG 1: No Poverty | SDG 16: Peace, Justice, Strong Institutions
Institutions: NITI Aayog | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
On the 10-year mark of the 2030 Agenda, UNDP India outlines how India institutionalised the SDGs through ten milestones that span data, planning, and participation. The SDG India Index now ranks states and UTs on progress, while the National Indicator Framework has been refined and localised down to districts. In the North-East, the NER District SDG Index and investments under PM-DevINE have linked regional development with SDG priorities. At the grassroots, SDG targets are integrated into Gram Panchayat plans through the Panchayat Advancement Index.
States such as Haryana and Odisha have mapped their budgets to SDG targets, supported by new SDG Coordination & Acceleration Centres that institutionalise roles. The Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme applies data-driven methods to reduce regional disparities, while Voluntary National Reviews (2017, 2020, 2025) brought in over 1,000 civil society partners alongside government and private sector voices. Tangibly, this ecosystem has helped move 135+ million people out of multidimensional poverty.
Taken together, these milestones show how a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach has embedded global goals into India’s governance fabric, turning SDG commitments into measurable transformation.
What is the SDG India Index? → A ranking tool for states and union territories based on SDG performance metrics, used to stimulate competitive improvement and data transparency across regions.
What is the National Indicator Framework (NIF)? → India’s statistical backbone for SDG monitoring, developed by MoSPI. It maps global SDG targets to 300+ national indicators, with disaggregated data down to state and district level. It is updated periodically to track progress and align policies.
What is the NER District SDG Index? → A joint initiative by NITI Aayog, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), and UNDP, it ranks all districts in the North Eastern Region on SDG performance. It is designed to spotlight disparities, guide targeted investments, and link local plans to the national SDG framework.
What is PM-DevINE? → The Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for the North East (PM-DevINE), launched in Union Budget 2022–23, is a centrally funded scheme to support infrastructure, social development, and livelihood projects in the eight NE states. It channels projects that align with SDG indicators, often guided by the NER District SDG Index.
What is “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach? → A whole-of-government approach means all ministries and departments coordinate on SDG delivery instead of working in silos. A whole-of-society approach brings in non-state actors, civil society, private sector, academia, and citizen to co-create and monitor SDG progress. Together, they expand ownership and accountability for 2030 Agenda implementation.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
Which of India’s SDG institutional tools (Indexing, budgeting, local indices, stakeholder engagement) can be repurposed most effectively to accelerate NCD and health SDG goals?
Follow the full news here: UNDP India Blog – Ten Years, 10 Milestones