India’s Journey from 117 to 99
Key Improvements: Health, Energy, and Education
India’s position in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index has improved to 99 in 2025, up from 117 just two years ago. This significant progress underscores a combination of nationwide policy reforms and grassroots initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive growth. According to the UN SDG Report 2025, India’s scores saw notable gains in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
States like Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu lead the way in achieving near-universal literacy, maternal healthcare, and digital education access. The Ministry of Health reported a 15% reduction in infant mortality in these states over the past two years. Additionally, over 120 million households now have access to renewable electricity, primarily through solar energy solutions under the PM-KUSUM scheme. These improvements have had a cascading effect on rural education, women empowerment, and microentrepreneurship.
However, several challenges continue to impede uniform progress. A 2024 NITI Aayog study highlighted worsening water scarcity in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where groundwater levels have declined by over 30% since 2019. Gender disparity in workforce participation remains high, with the female labor force participation rate stagnating around 25%. Moreover, cities like Delhi, Patna, and Kanpur still rank poorly on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) due to inadequate waste management and air pollution levels exceeding WHO safe thresholds.
UN SDG Advisor Dr. Leila Sharma commented, “India’s accelerated gains show promise, but meeting the 2030 targets will require doubling down on policy execution, climate action, and institutional transparency.” Experts argue that India must address inequality, regional disparities, and systemic corruption to maintain momentum.
Achieving the 2030 SDG goals is still a formidable challenge. Nonetheless, India’s leap to the 99th rank is a testament to its growing commitment to a sustainable, equitable future.