GUWAHATI: Assam has emerged as a top performer in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2023-24 released by NITI Aayog.
The state showed remarkable progress in sustainable development as Assam improved its overall score by 8 points since the 2020-21 edition.
Assam has consistently improved its score since 2018 by 16 points, securing a place in the “Front Runner” category.
This category indicates a score between 65 and 99 on the SDG index, reflecting the state’s dedication to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Manipur made the same progress as Assam and joined the “Front Runner” category. Tripura advanced by 6 points, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim by 5 each, Mizoram by 4, Meghalaya by 3, and Nagaland by 2.
While most northeastern states achieved “Front Runner” status, Meghalaya and Nagaland remain in the third “Performer” category.
Meghalaya, however, achieved “Front Runner” status in the specific goal of Good Health and Well-Being, highlighting its progress in this area.
The NITI Aayog report categorises states into four performance levels: achiever, front runner, performer, and aspirant.
These classifications help in tracking the progress of the states in achieving sustainable development targets.
The SDG India Index 2023-24 reveals positive trends across all states and union territories. The country’s overall SDG score reached 71, a significant improvement from 66 in 2020-21 and 57 in 2018.
Significant progress was noted in goals related to poverty elimination, decent work and economic growth, and climate action, among others.
The index, which measures progress on 113 indicators across 16 SDGs, is a key tool for encouraging competition among states.
