Vishesh: SDG Report 2023-24 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

SDG Report 2023-24

Why in News?

• The SDG India Index 2023-24, India's fourth tool for monitoring progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has been issued by NITI Aayog.
• The index tracks SDG progress at national and state levels.

What Progress has been Made on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)?

About:

• The SDG India Index, created by NITI Aayog since 2018, tracks India's progress towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• It helps states include these goals in their development plans and gives a standard for policymakers to fill gaps and focus on actions for sustainable development by 2030.
• The Index assesses states and union territories (UTs) on 16 SDGs using 113 indicators aligned with national priorities.

Overall Progress:

• India's SDG score rose to 71 in 2023-24, up from 66 in 2020-21 and 57 in 2018.
• All states improved their scores due to government efforts in poverty reduction, economic growth, and climate action.
• Notable progress was seen in Goals 1 (No Poverty), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 13 (Climate Action).

Top Performers:

• Kerala and Uttarakhand are the top states, each scoring 79 points.

Lowest Performer:

• Bihar scored 57 points, with Jharkhand at 62 points.

Front-Runner States:

32 states and UTs are now front-runners, including new additions like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh.

Goal 1 – No Poverty

• Score increased by 12 points from 2020-21 to 2023-24, moving from Performer to Front Runner.
• Almost half the number of poor people reduced from 24.8% to 14.96% (2015-16 to 2019-21).
• Almost all job seekers under MGNREGA have found work.
• Most households now have solid houses.
• More households now have health insurance.

Goal 2 – Zero Hunger

• Progressed from Aspirant to Performer category.
• Almost all beneficiaries are covered under NFSA.
• Increased productivity in rice and wheat farming.
• Income per worker in agriculture has gone up.

Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being

• Improved score from 52 in 2018 to 77 in 2023-24.
• Maternal Mortality Rate decreased.
• Child mortality rate reduced.
• Many children are fully immunized.
• Most deliveries happen in health facilities.

 What are Challenges in Achieving SDG Targets ?

• Poverty and Inequality: Even with the economy growing, many people still live in poverty and unequal conditions. India, for example, has high inequality levels according to the World Inequality Report 2022, where a small percentage of the population holds a large portion of the national income.
• Hunger Issue: Malnutrition and hidden hunger are significant problems in India. The National Family Health Survey 5 shows high rates of anemia among men, women, and children. Global Hunger Index 2023 rates India's hunger severity as serious.
• Healthcare Access: Providing healthcare for everyone and enhancing medical facilities are ongoing challenges. India falls short in hospital bed availability compared to WHO standards.
• Education Quality: Although more students are enrolling in schools, the quality of education and retention rates need improvement. Literacy rates vary across regions and genders.
• Gender Inequality: Disparities in education, employment, and societal status persist in India, as shown by its ranking in the Gender Gap Report 2024.
• Climate Change and Environmental Degradation: India faces challenges in balancing development with environmental sustainability, highlighted by its position in the Climate Change Performance Index and pollution levels.
• Urbanization: Rapid urban growth strains infrastructure and services, leading to issues like slums, pollution, and congestion.
• Unemployment: Generating sufficient quality jobs for the growing workforce remains a concern, despite improvements in the overall unemployment rate.
• Agricultural Productivity: Enhancing farm yields while ensuring sustainability is vital for food security, especially considering the declining share of agriculture in the economy.
• Governance and Implementation: Implementing effective policies and coordinating between government levels pose challenges to efficient governance.

What have been Government Interventions?

Some of the government interventions to achieve SDG targets and inclusive development and corresponding progress made are :

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: Over 4 crore houses have been constructed.
• Swachh Bharat Mission: 11 crore toilets and 2.23 lakh community sanitary complexes have been built.
• Ujjwala Yojana: 10 crore LPG connections have been provided.
• Jal Jeevan Mission: Tap water connections in over 14.9 crore households have been given.
• Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY: Over 30 crore beneficiaries have been identified and linked to the scheme.
• Ayushman Arogya Mandir: Access to 150,000 beneficiaries have been provided which offers primary medical care and provides affordable generic medicines.
• PM Mudra Yojana: 43 crore loans have been sanctioned.
• Saubhagya Scheme: 100% of households have been electrified.
• Renewable Energy: Solar power capacity has increased from 2.82 GW to 73.32 GW in a decade.
• National Food Security Act (NFSA): Coverage of over 80 crore people.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Rs. 34 lakh crore have been made through PM-Jan Dhan accounts.
• Skill India Mission: Over 1.4 crore youth have been trained and upskilled and 54 lakh youth have been reskilled.

Way Forward

Poverty and Inequality: 

• Set up specific safety nets like MGNREGA and give money directly to people in need. Also, provide more training to help people get jobs.
• Promote fair economic growth by supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship in rural areas. Make sure resources are shared equally.

Healthcare Access: 

• Improve basic healthcare by having more clinics and necessary medicines available. Expand the Ayushman Bharat program.
• Work with both the government and private sector to offer healthcare in rural areas. Use technology to make healthcare better and manage diseases.

Education Quality: 

• Improve how teachers are trained and the condition of schools. Make sure even young children can go to school.
• Use technology in schools and make sure all kids, especially those with difficulties, can get a good education.

Gender Inequality: 

• Help women by giving them better education, jobs, and chances to lead. Also, make laws stronger against violence towards women.

Climate Change and Environmental Degradation: 

• Use more renewable energy and plant more trees. Also, make stricter rules about pollution and encourage farming that helps the environment.

Agricultural Productivity: 

• Teach farmers modern ways to farm and provide better irrigation. Help them sell their products better and research better crops.

Governance and Implementation: 

• Give more power to local governments and train officials better. Also, keep a close watch on things and work with private companies to give better services and be more open about how things are run.