Progress Made on Sustainable Development Goals

General Studies Paper -3

Context: India has made significant progress in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators but needs to address challenges in certain areas, according to the National Indicator Framework progress report 2024, launched on the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation’s (Mospi’s)18th National Statistics Day.

Findings

• The report presents the time series data on the SDG national indicators based on the data received from the concerned line ministries.
• The National Indicator Framework tracked 290 indicators across 17 SDG goals.
• Progress Made: The neonatal mortality ratio has declined to 20 per 1000 live births during 2020 compared with 25 in 2015.
• The share of fully vaccinated children (between 12-23 months of age) increased to 76.6 per cent in 2019-21 from 62 per cent in 2015-16.
• The gross enrolment ratio or number of students enrolled as a proportion of the school-age population for higher secondary had risen nearly ten percentage points to 57.6 in 2021-22 from 48.32 in 2015-16.
• In terms of decent work and employment opportunities, the total outstanding credit to MSMEs stood at Rs 22.6 trillion in 2022-23 from Rs 12.16 trillion in 2015-16.
• The number of waste recycling plants installed has increased from 829 in 2020 to 2447 in 2024
• The Maternal Mortality Ratio has declined from 130 per 1,00,000 live births in 2014-16 to 97 per 1,00,000 live births in 2018-20.
• Challenges in Areas: The gender wage gap for casual labourers has widened compared to 2017-18. In 2022-23 (July-September), the average wage gap between male and female casual labourers widened to Rs 178, compared with Rs 96 in 2017-18.
• Similarly, the amount of hazardous waste generated per capita increased to 9.28 metric tonnes in 2022-23 from 7.19 metric tonnes in 2017-18.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Adoption: The United Nations General Assembly, during its 70th Session in 2015, adopted the document titled “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
  • This document outlines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets.
• The SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, came into force with effect from 1st January 2016.
• Aim: The SDGs serve as a comprehensive blueprint aimed at achieving a better and more sustainable future for all.
• The goals call for action on addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.
• Applicability: The SDGs are universal, applying to all nations—developed, developing and least developed countries.
  • Countries are primarily responsible for following up and reviewing the progress made in implementing the goals and targets at the national level until 2030.
• Legality: The SDGs are not legally binding, but they have effectively become international obligations and have the potential to reorient domestic spending priorities in countries.

Countries are expected to take ownership and develop a national framework to monitor these goals.