Kerala Tops Again In NITI Aayog Sustainable Development Index, Bihar Last
Kerala has retained the top rank in NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2020-21, while Bihar has been adjudged as the worst performer, according to a report released by the government think tank.
The SDG index evaluates progress of states and union territories on social, economic and environmental parameters. As per the report, Mizoram, Haryana, and Uttarakhand are the top gainers in terms of improvement in their rankings from 2019.
While launching the report, NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Dr Rajiv Kumar said, “Our effort of monitoring SDGs through the SDG India Index & Dashboard continues to be widely noticed and applauded around the world. It remains a rare data-driven initiative to rank our States and Union Territories by computing a composite index on the SDGs. We are confident that it will remain a matter of aspiration and emulation and help propel monitoring efforts at the international level.”
Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog said, “The report reflects on the partnerships we have built and strengthened during our SDG efforts. The narrative throws light on how collaborative initiatives can result in better outcomes and greater impacts.”
Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (SDGs), NITI Aayog said, “From covering 13 Goals with 62 indicators in its first edition in 2018, the third edition covers 16 Goals on 115 quantitative indicators, with a qualitative assessment on Goal 17, thereby reflecting our continuous efforts towards refining this important tool.”
According to the index, though the country has made significant progress in several parameters including health and well-being, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, and sustainable cities and communities, it needs to focus on eradicating hunger and gender equality.
