India has entered the top 100 countries for the first time in the 2025 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, securing the 99th rank out of 167 countries.
- The data comes from the 10th Sustainable Development Report (SDR) released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN) in June 2025.
The 2025 SDR, themed ‘Financing Sustainable Development to 2030 and Mid-Century’, tracks global progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- The SDR has been released annually since 2016 by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
- UNSDSN was launched in 2012 to mobilise scientific and technological expertise for the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Key Highlights:
India’s Performance:
- Rank: 99th
- Score: 67 (on a scale of 0–100)
- Significant improvement from 109th in 2024, continuing a rising trend since 2022.
Global Ranking Leaders:
- Top performers:
- 1st: Finland
- 2nd: Sweden
- 3rd: Denmark
- China: 49th (Score: 74.4)
- United States: 44th (Score: 75.2) but last (193rd) in SDG commitment due to policy reversals.
Key Takeaways from the Global Report:
SDG Index Score Explained:
- Measures progress on a 0–100 scale across 17 SDGs.
- 100 implies full achievement of all 17 goals.
Global Challenges:
- Only 17% of SDG targets are on track globally to be achieved by 2030.
- Major roadblocks:
- Conflicts
- Limited fiscal space
- Structural vulnerabilities
- Inequitable global financial flows
Regions Showing Fastest Progress:
- East and South Asia have outperformed other regions.
- Fastest movers since 2015 (in points gained):
- Nepal (+11.1), Cambodia (+10), Philippines (+8.6), Bangladesh (+8.3), Mongolia (+7.7)
- Also: Benin (+14.5), Uzbekistan (+12.1), UAE (+9.9), Saudi Arabia (+8.1)
SDG Targets with Good Progress Globally:
- Access to electricity (SDG 7)
- Internet and mobile broadband access (SDG 9)
- Reduction in neonatal and under-five mortality (SDG 3)
It identified five areas of significant regression since 2015:
- Rising obesity (SDG 2)
- Decline in press freedom (SDG 16)
- Poor sustainable nitrogen management (SDG 2)
- Biodiversity loss (Red List Index – SDG 15)
- Corruption Perceptions Index (SDG 16)
Structural Observations:
Broken Global Financial Architecture (GFA):
- Funds flow to rich countries, not to emerging and developing economies (EMDEs).
- The upcoming 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) (June 30–July 3, 2025, in Seville, Spain) will focus on GFA reform.
Commitment to Multilateralism:
- Top 3 countries in UN SDG commitment:
- 1st: Barbados
- 2nd: Jamaica
- 3rd: Trinidad and Tobago
G20 and OECD Performers:
- Brazil (25) leads among G20.
- Chile (7) tops among OECD nations.
Significance for India:
- India’s rise in the SDG Index reflects progress in areas like electricity access, sanitation, internet penetration, and health services.
- Aligns with national missions such as:
- Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
- Digital India
- Ayushman Bharat
- Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
- Jal Jeevan Mission
- Highlights India’s commitment to Agenda 2030, with the mantra “Leave No One Behind”.
Way Forward:
- Strengthen efforts on:
- Climate action (SDG 13)
- Biodiversity conservation (SDG 15)
- Good governance and press freedom (SDG 16)
- Mobilize resources via:
- Green finance, SDG-aligned budgeting, PPP models
- Promote data transparency and local-level monitoring for better SDG tracking.
