Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2026

The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2026 is the 11th edition of the annual global assessment of progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and assesses 167 countries using internationally comparable indicators covering all 17 SDGs.

The report provides the SDG Index and Dashboards, ranks countries according to their overall SDG performance, identifies major global, regional and national implementation gaps, and highlights policy priorities for accelerating SDG achievement. The 2026 edition places particular emphasis on the global implementation gap, as the world enters the final years of the 2030 Agenda.

Key Global Findings

The global outlook remains challenging, as only 16% of SDG targets are projected to be achieved by 2030. None of the 17 SDGs is currently on track to be fully achieved globally by the 2030 deadline. At the same time, East and South Asia have emerged as the fastest-improving regions in SDG implementation since 2015.

Finland retained the first position in the global SDG Index, followed by Sweden and Denmark. However, even the highest-ranked countries continue to face significant challenges in areas such as Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water and Life on Land.

The largest global implementation gaps remain in Sustainable Cities and Communities, Life Below Water, Life on Land, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Weak performance is also associated with sustainable agriculture, obesity, administrative justice, press freedom and corruption.

Despite these challenges, substantial progress has been recorded in electricity access, mobile broadband connectivity, internet usage, declining adolescent fertility rates and reduction in HIV infections.

India’s Performance

India secured the 94th position among 167 countries in the SDG Index 2026, with an overall score of 68.3 out of 100. This represents India’s highest-ever ranking since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015 and an improvement of 18 positions since 2015.

Despite this improvement, India continues to rank behind Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka in South Asia. Only 33.3% of India’s SDG targets are expected to be achieved by 2030, while 42.7% are progressing slowly and 24% have deteriorated.

Major Challenges for India

India continues to face significant challenges in Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Gender Equality, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Life Below Water, Life on Land, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Zero Hunger remains one of India’s biggest development challenges because of persistent child stunting, increasing child wasting, undernourishment and rising adult obesity. Health outcomes also remain a concern because of increasing deaths associated with air pollution and non-communicable diseases.

India’s performance in Climate Action has weakened due to rising carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and cement production. The report also identifies continuing concerns regarding institutional quality, corruption perception and press freedom.

Areas of Progress in India

India has made notable progress in expanding electricity access, mobile broadband connectivity and internet penetration, thereby strengthening digital inclusion and infrastructure development.

India’s progress is particularly significant for global SDG achievement because the country accounts for nearly one-sixth of the global population. Improvements in poverty reduction, nutrition, healthcare, clean energy and climate resilience in India can therefore have a substantial impact on global progress towards the 2030 Agenda.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) constitute a universal framework comprising 17 interconnected goals and 169 targets, adopted by all 193 UN Member States in 2015 under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The goals aim to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, promote inclusive growth, protect the environment and ensure peace and prosperity by 2030.

The SDGs emerged from the evolution of the global sustainable development agenda, including the Brundtland Commission Report (1987), the Millennium Development Goals (2000–2015) and the Rio+20 Summit (2012).

The 17 SDGs

SDG 1 – No Poverty focuses on ending poverty in all its forms. SDG 2 – Zero Hunger seeks to eliminate hunger, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being aims to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all.

SDG 4 – Quality Education promotes inclusive and equitable quality education. SDG 5 – Gender Equality seeks to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls. SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation focuses on universal access to water and sanitation.

SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy promotes access to reliable, sustainable and modern energy. SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth promotes sustained economic growth and productive employment. SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure focuses on resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialisation and innovation.

SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities seeks to reduce inequality within and among countries. SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities promotes inclusive, safe and sustainable urban settlements. SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production promotes sustainable resource use and production patterns.

SDG 13 – Climate Action focuses on combating climate change and its impacts. SDG 14 – Life Below Water seeks to conserve and sustainably use oceans and marine resources. SDG 15 – Life on Land focuses on terrestrial ecosystems, forests, biodiversity and land degradation.

SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions promotes peaceful societies, access to justice and accountable institutions. SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals focuses on strengthening international cooperation and means of implementation.

India’s Institutional Framework for SDG Implementation

India has established an institutional framework for monitoring and implementing the SDGs. NITI Aayog acts as the nodal institution through the SDG India Index and Dashboard, promoting cooperative and competitive federalism among States and Union Territories.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) monitors national SDG progress through the National Indicator Framework (NIF), comprising 277 indicators, with support from the Data for Development Coordination Forum (DDCF).

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj promotes localisation of SDGs through the Local Indicator Framework (LIF) and the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI), supporting grassroots implementation across more than 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats.

Major Indian Initiatives Supporting SDGs

Social Development and Basic Services

India’s efforts towards SDG 1 – No Poverty are supported by initiatives such as PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, PM Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Vishwakarma and the Aspirational Districts Programme. SDG 2 – Zero Hunger is supported by Poshan 2.0, PM POSHAN, the National Food Security Act and PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana.

For SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being, major initiatives include Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, National Health Mission and PM Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana. SDG 4 – Quality Education is supported by NEP 2020, PM SHRI Schools, Samagra Shiksha and NIPUN Bharat.

SDG 5 – Gender Equality is supported through initiatives such as Mission Shakti, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Namo Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi. SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation is supported by Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain and Namami Gange.

Energy, Economy and Infrastructure

For SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, major initiatives include PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, National Green Hydrogen Mission, PM-KUSUM and National Bioenergy Programme. SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth is supported by the Employment Linked Incentive Scheme, PM Internship Scheme, Skill India Mission and Startup India.

SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure is supported through PM Gati Shakti, IndiaAI Mission, Make in India and India Semiconductor Mission. For SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, important initiatives include PM JANMAN, PM-DevINE, Direct Benefit Transfer and the Aspirational Blocks Programme.

Environment and Climate Action

SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities is supported through Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT 2.0, PM-eBus Sewa and PMAY-Urban 2.0. SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production is promoted through Mission LiFE, Green Credit Programme, Extended Producer Responsibility and Plastic Waste Management Rules.

For SDG 13 – Climate Action, India has undertaken initiatives such as the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Mission LiFE, National Action Plan on Climate Change and National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change. SDG 14 – Life Below Water is supported through Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Blue Economy initiatives, Deep Ocean Mission and the Coastal Regulation Zone framework.

SDG 15 – Life on Land is supported by initiatives such as MISHTI, Aravalli Green Wall Project, Green India Mission and Project Tiger. SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions is supported through the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and allied criminal laws, e-Courts Phase III, Mission Karmayogi and Digital India.

Finally, SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals is supported through international initiatives such as the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), Global Biofuels Alliance, India-UN Development Partnership Fund and International Solar Alliance.