Niti Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals Index

Niti Aayog-National Institution of Transformation of India was formed to monitor the progress of Different states and union territories in India. Progress is made by achieving certain goals. India got the 120th position in the worldwide Sustainable Development Report 2021 for following the 17 Sustainable Development Goals made by the UN general assembly.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index computes scores of each state and Union Territory; there are around 13 goals for different states to achieve. India is improving its health by progressing in the Niti Aayog SDG index. India scored 57 in 2018-19, 60 in 2019-20, and 66 in 2020-2021.

Promote Healthy Competition

Niti Aayog encourages people to Promote healthy competition between states in attaining their goals. Sustainable Development Goals Index has promoted the healthcare facilities of India; nutritious food is made available to all the backward regions. The health Goal ‘ensures healthy lives and promotes well-being for all ages. Kerala has retained the top rank in Niti Aayog’s SDG healthy competition. Niti Aayog’s health index is prepared with 24 indicators, which cover all the health-related aspects of the states. The States and Union Territories are divided into four categories based on scores i.e., Front runner, Achiever, Aspirant, and Performer. 

Objectives of NITI Aayog’s SDG Index to promote healthy competition

Reduce poverty and urbanization Niti’s SDG goals have provided basic services to increase employment opportunities, accelerate economic growth and population control, providing essential services and income support to reduce poverty and urbanization. 

• Providing nutrition and security

Essential nutrition is provided to all children and people for a better future for the Nation is one of the primary objectives of the index to promote healthy competition. 

• Education and Employment

Compulsory education is provided to all children, with free access to quality learning. Job creations are made for more employment opportunities. 

First developed in 2018

The Niti Aayog Sustainable Development Index India: Baseline Report 2018 highlights the progress made by the states and union territories in achieving their SDG targets. The main people responsible for creating the Niti Aayog SDG goals index 2018 are Mr. Amitabh Kant, CEO, and chairperson Hon Mr. Narendra Modi. 

Initiatives and Programmes 

• Calculating the performance of different states in achieving their goals

Niti Aayog’s Sustainable Development Index measures the outcomes of all the states in achieving the goals in different sectors, including health, education, water, and so on. The Health Index, Water Management Index, School Education Quality Index, and Digital Transformation Index are made to measure the progress made in different sectors.

• Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital 

• Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat

• Development Support Services to State

• Public-Private Partnership in Health

• Resolution of pending issues of States with Central Ministries

• State Human Development Report

• Transforming 115 identified Aspirational Districts                 

Help to Identify Priority Areas

The Niti Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goal Index helps identify priority areas where there are issues related to poverty, education, development, etc. As India is a developing country, it is in the best position for development priorities. Niti Ayog’s SDG goals help the government find the areas that are low in different sectors and take necessary actions to improve the condition of the people there. 

The need for identifying Priority Areas

• Poverty

A study revealed that more than 27.5 % of the population in India is poor, and India is the 2nd largest populated country in the world. This leads to the conclusion that one in every four persons is poor.

• Inequality

Inequality is the major issue faced by most people. Income inequality impacts the Indian economy, and social inequality like gender, caste, and tribe also prevails.

• Unemployment

Due to the large population and increase in the number of educated people, unemployment is increasing day by day. The Unemployment rate was 8.1% in February 2022 and 7.6 in March.

Improvements that Niti Aayog SDG Index can make in identifying priority areas

• Niti Aayog’s SDG goals can help to improve the food security of priority areas and provide better food and water for the poor.

• Get rid of poverty and unemployment by providing better education opportunities and employment via job creation.

• Reduce problems related to social inequalities, including gender, caste, income, etc.   

Conclusion

Niti Aayog SDG index is the report of the progress made by different states in different fields, and it helps in the progress of the Nation and Promote Healthy Competition in many ways. It can help make economic progress. social justice, protect the environment, and improve people’s lives. The Index measures the state’s progress on the outcomes of schemes and interventions by the country’s government. It is an aggregate measure that businesses, policymakers, the general public, and civil society can use for their respective purposes.