Guwahati, 15th July: Assam has made a remarkable leap in the latest SDG India Index 2023-24, released by NITI Aayog, by improving its overall score by 8 points since the 2020-21 edition. This northeastern state has shown consistent progress in sustainable development, culminating in a total improvement of 16 points since 2018, securing its place in the “Front Runner” category. This category is for scores ranging between 65 and 99 on the SDG index, reflecting Assam’s commitment to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Manipur has matched Assam’s progress, also improving by 8 points and joining the “Front Runner” category. Other northeastern states have demonstrated varied improvements: Tripura advanced by 6 points, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim by 5 points each, Mizoram by 4 points, Meghalaya by 3 points, and Nagaland by 2 points.
While most northeastern states achieved “Front Runner” status, Meghalaya and Nagaland remain in the third “Performer” category. However, Meghalaya attained “Front Runner” status specifically in the goal of Good Health and Well-Being, highlighting its targeted progress in this area.
The NITI Aayog report categorizes states into four performance levels: Achiever, Front Runner, Performer, and Aspirant. This classification system helps track progress and encourages healthy competition among states to achieve sustainable development targets.
Nationally, the SDG India Index 2023-24 reveals positive trends across all states and union territories. The country’s overall SDG score has reached 71, a notable improvement from 66 in 2020-21 and 57 in 2018. Significant progress has been noted in goals related to poverty elimination, decent work and economic growth, climate action, and life on land.
The index, measuring progress on 113 indicators across 16 SDGs, serves as a crucial tool for fostering competitive and cooperative federalism among states.