New Delhi, 3 June 2021: Kerala has come on the top while Bihar ranked last in the third edition
of NITI Aayog’s ranking on Sustainable Development Goals and performance of
states. The government think-tank released its 2020-21 ranking on Thursday.
The SDG India Index 2020–21, developed in collaboration with the United
Nations in India, tracks progress of all the States and UTs on 115 indicators
that are aligned to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
(MoSPI)’s National Indicator Framework (NIF).
The SDG India Index computes goal-wise scores on 16 SDGs for each State
and Union Territories. These overall scores are generated from goal-wise scores
to measure aggregate performance of the sub-national unit based on its
performance across the 16 SDGs. These scores range between 0–100.
States and Union Territories are classified as Aspirant (0–49), Performer
(50–64), Front-Runner (65–99) and Achiever (100).
If a State/UT achieves a score of 100, it signifies it has achieved the
2030 targets. The higher the score of a State/UT, the greater the distance to
target achieved, says the report.
On these criteria, Kerala achieved 75 score of 75 followed by Himachal
Pradesh (74) and Tamil Nadu (74). Four states including Andhra Pradesh, Goa,
Karnataka and Uttarakhand- have scored 72. On the other hand, most of the
states from the cow-belt are at the bottom. Bihar has scored 52 which is the
lowest for any state. Jharkhand (56), Assam (57), Uttar Pradesh (60), Rajasthan
(60) are just above Bihar when it comes to the performance on SDG goals.
As per the report, Mizoram, Haryana, and Uttarakhand are the top gainers
in 2020–21in terms of improvement in score from 2019, with an increase of 12,
10 and 8 points, respectively.
It should be noted that NITI Aayog initiated ranking of states in 2018
and this is the third report.
"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 Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (SDGs),
NITI Aayog.
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 States and UTs. 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 and UTs on
the expansive nature of the Goals, including health, education, gender,
economic growth, institutions, climate change and environment.
