North Eastern Region (NER) District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index Report (2023-24)

The second edition of the North Eastern Region (NER) District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index Report was recently released by NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER), with technical support from UNDP. The report measures the progress of 121 districts across the eight North Eastern States of India on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on the region’s efforts to achieve the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

About the North Eastern Region District SDG Index

Background:

• The first edition of this index was launched on 26 August 2021, and the current edition builds upon the momentum generated by the first report.

• The Index is designed to be a monitoring tool for district-level performance on the SDGs in the North Eastern Region (NER).

• It is developed by NITI Aayog and MoDoNER, with technical assistance from UNDP, and uses the SDG India Index methodology by NITI Aayog to track development progress.

Key Features:

• SDG Categories: The index focuses on social, economic, and environmental dimensions, with the overarching aim of ensuring no one is left behind in the region’s development.

• District Categorization: Districts are ranked into four categories based on their performance:

  • Achiever: Score = 100 (Targets achieved for identified indicators)

  • Front Runner: Score = 65-99 (High performance, but targets not fully met)

  • Performer: Score = 50-65 (Moderate performance)

  • Aspirant: Score < 50 (Needs significant improvement)

Objective:

• The Index provides a district-level analysis of SDG performance and aims to offer actionable insights for policy-making and decision-making. It helps identify where to focus efforts to fast-track progress and accelerate the achievement of SDGs by 2030.

Key Findings from the NER District SDG Index 2023-24:

1. Range of District Scores:

   • The composite scores of districts range from 58.71 (Longding, Arunachal Pradesh) to 81.43 (Hnahthial, Mizoram), indicating a significant variation in the SDG performance across the region.

2. Top-Performing States:

   • Mizoram stands out with all districts achieving Front Runner status, and Hnahthial being the highest-scoring district (81.43) in the entire Northeast.

   • Sikkim shows the narrowest performance range (5.5 points) between the highest and lowest-scoring districts, indicating consistent performance across its districts.

3. States with Some Intra-State Variation:

   • Tripura demonstrates high-scoring districts with minimal variation (6.5 points), showcasing consistent performance at the district level.

   • Mizoram and Nagaland exhibit higher-scoring districts but have notable intra-state variations (ranges of 13.72 and 15.07, respectively), suggesting areas of improvement within these states.

4. States with Lowest Performing District:

   • Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest-scoring district in the entire region (Longding at 58.71), highlighting the need for focused attention in certain areas of the state to address development gaps.

Importance of the SDG Index for NER:

• Informed Decision Making: The SDG Index serves as a vital tool for district-level planning and policy formulation, helping identify gaps and opportunities for accelerated development in specific areas.

• Targeted Policy Interventions: The categorization of districts into Front Runner, Performer, Achiever, and Aspirant allows for targeted interventions, prioritizing those districts that need the most attention.

• Monitoring and Accountability: By releasing regular updates like this one, NITI Aayog ensures continuous monitoring of progress toward achieving the 2030 SDG agenda at the district level.

• Promoting Inclusivity: The index underscores the importance of inclusive growth in the NER, ensuring that no district is left behind in terms of social, economic, and environmental development.

SDG India Index 2023-24:

The SDG India Index is a comprehensive tool developed by NITI Aayog to track India’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations. The index has become crucial for identifying gaps, prioritizing interventions, and assessing performance across states and Union Territories (UTs).

What is the SDG India Index?

• Purpose: The SDG India Index measures India’s progress in achieving the SDGs, supporting states and UTs to integrate SDGs into their development plans. It serves as a benchmark for policymakers to assess where improvements are needed.

• Methodology: The Index evaluates the performance of states and UTs based on 16 SDGs using a set of 113 indicators aligned with the National Indicator Framework. The overall composite score is calculated from the individual goal scores, with a range from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better progress.

• Categories:

  • Aspirant: Score 0-49

  • Performer: Score 50-64

  • Front-Runner: Score 65-99

  • Achiever: Score 100

• Exclusion: Goal 14 (Life Below Water), which applies only to the nine coastal states, is not included in the composite score.

Key Findings from the SDG India Index 2023-24

1. Overall Progress:

   • India’s overall SDG score improved to 71 in 2023-24, up from 66 in 2020-21 and 57 in 2018. This indicates a significant improvement across various states and UTs, driven by government interventions in key areas like poverty reduction, economic growth, and climate action.

2. Top Performers:

   • Kerala and Uttarakhand emerged as the best-performing states, each scoring 79 points.

3. Lowest Performers:

   • Bihar performed the weakest, scoring 57 points, followed by Jharkhand with 62 points.

4. Front-Runner States:

   • A total of 32 states and UTs are categorized as Front-Runners, with 10 new entrants in this category, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh.

Government Interventions Driving SDG Progress

Several government initiatives have contributed significantly to the country’s SDG progress:

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: Over 4 crore houses built.

• Swachh Bharat Mission: 11 crore toilets and over 2.23 lakh community sanitary complexes constructed.

• Ujjwala Yojana: 10 crore LPG connections provided.

• Jal Jeevan Mission: 14.9 crore tap water connections provided.

• Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY: Over 30 crore beneficiaries covered.

• PM Mudra Yojana: 43 crore loans sanctioned.

• Saubhagya Scheme: Achieved 100% household electrification.

• Renewable Energy: Solar power capacity increased from 2.82 GW to 73.32 GW over a decade.

SDG-wise Key Highlights

1. Goal 1: No Poverty

   • Score improved from 60 (2020-21) to 72 in 2023-24.

   • 99.7% of employment demand under MGNREGA fulfilled in 2023-24.

2. Goal 2: Zero Hunger

   • Moved from Aspirant to Performer.

   • 99.01% beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

3. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Score improved from 52 in 2018 to 77 in 2023-24.

   • 93.23% children aged 9-11 months are fully immunized.

   • Maternal Mortality Rate stands at 97 per 100,000 live births.

4. Goal 4: Quality Education

   • Adjusted Net Enrolment Rate (ANER) for elementary education stands at 96.5%.

   • 88.65% of schools have access to both electricity and drinking water.

5. Goal 5: Gender Equality

   • Score improved from 36 in 2018 to 49 in 2023-24.

   • Sex ratio at birth stands at 929 females per 1,000 males.

6. Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Score improved from 63 in 2018 to 89 in 2023-24.

   • 94.7% of schools have functional toilets for girls.

7. Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • The highest score among all SDGs, improving from 51 in 2018 to 96 in 2023-24.

   • 100% of households have access to electricity under the Saubhagya Scheme.

8. Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • 5.88% annual growth rate of GDP per capita in 2022-23.

   • Unemployment rate decreased from 6.2% (2018-19) to 3.40% (2022-23).

9. Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • 99.7% of habitations connected with all-weather roads under the PM Gram Sadak Yojana.

10. Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

    • A slight decrease in score from 67 (2020-21) to 65 (2023-24), reflecting persistent inequalities, especially in employment opportunities.

11. Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

    • Score improved from 39 in 2018 to 83 in 2023-24.

    • 97% of wards have 100% door-to-door waste collection.

12. Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

    • 91.5% of biomedical waste generated is treated.

    • 54.99% of hazardous waste recycled in 2022-23.

13. Goal 13: Climate Action

    • Significant improvement, from 54 (Performer) to 67 (Front Runner).

    • Renewable energy generation improved from 36.37% in 2020 to 43.28% in 2024.

14. Goal 15: Life on Land

    • Score improved from 66 in 2020-21 to 75 in 2023-24.

    • Nearly 25% of geographical area is under forests and tree cover.

15. Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

    • 95.5% of the population is under Aadhaar coverage as of March 2024.

    • 71.3% charge sheeting rate of IPC crimes according to NCRB 2022.

The SDG India Index 2023-24 showcases substantial progress in India’s sustainable development journey. Kerala and Uttarakhand have emerged as the top-performing states, but significant gaps remain, particularly in areas like Gender Equality and Reduced Inequalities. The ongoing government initiatives and the bottom-up approach to governance promoted by NITI Aayog have clearly played a key role in driving progress.

Conclusion:

The NER District SDG Index Report (2023-24) represents a crucial step in the pursuit of sustainable development in India's North Eastern region. By offering detailed insights into district-level performance and highlighting areas of improvement, the report aims to enhance accountability, performance, and policy responses that will help achieve the SDGs by 2030.