India's Prioritization of

Sustainable Development
Goals
India has recognized the importance of the 17
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) in its path towards sustainable
development. This document explores the top 5
SDG goals that India is giving the most
importance to and the reasons behind their
prioritization. Let's delve into India's approach
and its impact.

Top 5 Prioritized SDG Goals

in India
1. Goal 1: No Poverty
2. Goal 2: Zero Hunger
3. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
4. Goal 4: Quality Education
5. Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Reasons for Prioritizing These
Goals
India has prioritized these SDG goals due to the following
reasons:
 No Poverty: India has a large percentage of its population
living below the poverty line. Goal 1 aims to eradicate
poverty in all forms and dimensions.
 Zero Hunger: India is home to the largest number of
undernourished people in the world. Goal 2 aims to end
hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and
promote sustainable agriculture.
 Good Health and Well-being: India faces a range of health
challenges, including high infant and maternal mortality
rates. Goal 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote
well-being for all, at all ages.
 Quality Education: India has made significant progress in
increasing access to education, but still faces challenges in
terms of quality and relevance. Goal 4 aims to ensure
inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all.
 Affordable and Clean Energy: India is the third-largest
energy consumer in the world, and is heavily reliant on
fossil fuels. Goal 7 aims to ensure access to affordable,
reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
Impact of Prioritizing These
Goals
By prioritizing these SDG goals, India has made significant progress in achieving
them. For example, India has reduced poverty from 45% in 1993 to 22% in 2011.
In addition, India has made significant strides in improving access to clean energy,
with renewable energy accounting for 23% of India's total installed power capacity
as of 2020.

Challenges Faced
However, India also faces various challenges in implementing the SDGs. Some of
the key challenges include inadequate financing, poor implementation capacity,
and lack of awareness and participation among citizens.

India's Approach to
Sustainable Development
India is committed to achieving sustainable development by integrating economic
growth, social inclusion, and environmental conservation. The country's approach
emphasizes poverty eradication, clean energy, education, gender equality, and
more. By aligning its national policies with the SDGs, India aims to build a
prosperous and resilient future for its citizens.

Key Focus Areas:

 Poverty Eradication
 Clean Energy
 Education
 Gender Equality
 Infrastructure Development
 Healthcare
Goals:

1. No Poverty
2. Quality Education
3. Gender Equality
4. Affordable and Clean Energy
5. Decent Work and Economic Growth
6. Sustainable Cities and Communities
7. Climate Action

Overview of the 17 United

Nations SDGs
1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
10.Reduced Inequalities
11.Sustainable Cities and Communities
12.Responsible Consumption and Production
13.Climate Action
14.Life Below Water
15.Life on Land
16.Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
17.Partnerships for the Goals
Top 5 SDG Goals Prioritized
in India
No Poverty
India prioritizes eradicating poverty to ensure an inclusive society where every
citizen has access to basic necessities and opportunities for upward mobility.

Efforts include implementing social welfare programs, creating job opportunities,

and providing financial assistance to marginalized communities.

Quality Education
India recognizes the transformative power of education, placing emphasis on
providing quality education to all, enabling individuals to reach their full potential.

This includes investing in school infrastructure, training teachers, and promoting

digital literacy to bridge the education gap.

Clean Water and Sanitation

India aims to provide safe and accessible water resources and improved sanitation
systems, enhancing public health and ensuring sustainable water management.

Efforts include building water treatment plants, improving sanitation facilities, and
implementing water conservation measures.

Affordable and Clean Energy

India focuses on promoting renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, combat climate change, and ensure a sustainable energy future.

This involves increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix,
implementing energy-efficient practices, and promoting clean cooking solutions.

Sustainable Cities and Communities

India is committed to developing inclusive, safe, and sustainable cities, ensuring
access to basic services, affordable housing, and sustainable urban planning.

This includes investing in smart city initiatives, improving public transportation,

and implementing waste management systems.

Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 1 aims to eradicate poverty in all forms and dimensions. In India, poverty
remains a significant challenge, with a large percentage of the population living
below the poverty line. To address this, the government has implemented several
programs and initiatives to promote inclusive growth and reduce poverty. For
example, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is a national financial
inclusion program that aims to provide access to financial services, such as
banking and insurance, to all households in India. Other programs, such as the
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA),
provide employment opportunities and social protection to rural households. By
implementing these programs and initiatives, India has made significant progress
in reducing poverty, from 45% in 1993 to 22% in 2011.
This displays the proportion of the population, broken down by sex, age, job
status, and geographic area (urban/rural), that falls below the international
poverty line.
The daily amount deemed to be the "international poverty line" is $1.90 (it was
previously $1.25; this modification was made in 2015).
This poverty threshold is determined using 2011 values to adjust for inflation
and is determined in "international dollars," a fake currency that takes price
differences between countries into account (purchasing power parity) (inflation).

This figure depicts the quantity of persons who have died, gone missing, or have
been adversely affected by disasters.
Both the number of people internally displaced as a result of natural disasters and
the mortality rate attributable to them—expressed here as the number of fatalities
per 100,000 people per year—are given.
By 2030, it is intended to strengthen the resilience of the disadvantaged and the

already vulnerable while reducing their expo

This Chart shows how many countries have adopted and implemented national
disaster risk reduction policies in accordance with the Sendai Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction 2015– 2030.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 is illustrated

here with a map of the countries that have and have not yet enacted laws for the
management of disaster risk.

By 2030, it is intended to strengthen the resilience of the disadvantaged and the

already vulnerable while reducing their exposure to and susceptibility to natural
disasters and extreme weather events.
All nations are expected to have established national plans for reducing
catastrophe risk by the year 2030.

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Goal 2 aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and
promote sustainable agriculture. In India, hunger and malnutrition remain
significant challenges, with the country being home to the largest number of
undernourished people in the world.

According to the Global Hunger Index 2020, India ranks 94th out of 107 countries
in terms of hunger and malnutrition. The report notes that 14% of India's
population is undernourished, and 37.4% of children under the age of five are
stunted. In addition, India has a high prevalence of wasting (17.3%) and
underweight (33.4%) among children under the age of five.

To address these challenges, the government has implemented several programs

and initiatives to promote food security and improve nutrition. For example, the
National Food Security Act (NFSA) provides subsidized food grains to eligible
households, while the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme
provides supplementary nutrition to pregnant women and children. In addition, the
government has launched several programs to promote sustainable agriculture,
such as the Soil Health Card Scheme, which aims to promote soil health and
increase agricultural productivity.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain in terms of ensuring access to nutritious

food and addressing malnutrition. The COVID-19 pandemic has further
exacerbated these challenges, with disruptions to food supply chains and economic
activities leading to increased food insecurity and malnutrition. However, the
government has taken several measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on
food security and nutrition, such as launching the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to provide free food grains to vulnerable households.
This Chart shows that undernourishment is common.

The prevalence of undernourishment is the proportion of the population whose

calorie intake is insufficient to meet their basic requirements for a healthy life.

Depending on an individual's age, gender, weight, and level of exercise, different

minimum guidelines apply.

Additionally, they vary by nation based on the demographics of its populace.

Individual distributions are taken into account for this measure to end hunger by
the year 2030. This requires putting an end to hunger for everyone.
An indication shows how common stunting is in children under the age of five.

A child is clearly badly malnourished and stunting when their height is too short
for their age. Stunted children are those whose height for age is two or more
standard deviations or more below the median of the WHO Child Growth
Standards.

Goal: To end all forms of malnutrition by 2030, including meeting the targets for
preventing stunting and wasting in children under five by 2025.
The indicator displays the output per labor unit for various sized agriculture,
pastoral, and forestry operations.

In the SDG Tracker, this is referred to as the economic value contributed per
agricultural worker. By 2030, the average productivity of food producers is to be
doubled.
The value added to agriculture per employee would have to treble by 2030.
Goal 3: Good Health and
Well-being
Goal 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. In
India, while significant progress has been made in improving health outcomes over
the past few decades, challenges remain in terms of ensuring access to quality
healthcare and addressing existing health inequalities.

The government has implemented several initiatives to address these challenges,

such as the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which aims to provide healthcare coverage
to the poor and vulnerable sections of society. In addition, the government has
launched several programs to promote maternal and child health, such as the
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) and the National Health
Mission (NHM).

Despite these efforts, challenges remain in terms of ensuring access to quality

healthcare, especially in rural and remote areas, and addressing the burden of non-
communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The
COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need to strengthen healthcare
systems and improve preparedness to respond to public health emergencies.

An indicator shows the proportion of births attended by personnel who are capable
of giving pregnant and labouring women the necessary supervision, care, and
direction as well as the ability to deliver babies on their own UN Target 3.1 is to
lower global maternal mortality to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.

All countries also aim to bring their maternal mortality rates down to under 140 per
100,000 live births.

However, the UN has not established a target for the percentage of births attended
by qualified experts.

An indicator shows the death rate for children under five.

The under-5 mortality rate is the proportion of children under the age of five who
die in each 1,000 live births.
By 2030, the global child mortality rate should be fewer than 25 per 1,000 live
births.

An indicator displays the amount of people who require treatment for neglected
tropical diseases.

This represents the total population that requires interventions (treatment and
care) for any of the 15 NTDs that the World Health Assembly resolutions and
the WHO NTD Roadmap have named. Preventive, curative, surgical, or
rehabilitative care are all included in a comprehensive definition of treatment and
care.

Goal: By 2030, all countries must be free of the scourge of NTDs. The targeted
level of reduction is not, however, mentioned.
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all. In India, while significant progress has been
made in expanding access to education, challenges remain in terms of ensuring
quality and relevance of education, especially for marginalized communities.

The government has implemented several initiatives to address these challenges,

such as the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, which aims to improve the quality of
education at all levels, and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, which aims to promote
access to education by providing free meals to children in government schools.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain in terms of improving learning outcomes,

promoting digital literacy, and addressing inequalities in access to education. The
COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need to strengthen education
systems and ensure continuity of learning in the face of crises.

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean

Energy
Goal 7 aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern
energy for all. In India, the government has implemented several initiatives to
promote clean energy, such as the National Solar Mission and the Ujwal DISCOM
Assurance Yojana. These initiatives have helped increase the share of renewable
energy in India's energy mix and improve energy access in rural areas.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain in terms of ensuring access to energy for
all and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. India still has a significant population
without access to electricity, especially in remote areas. The government is
working towards expanding energy access through initiatives like the Saubhagya
Scheme, which aims to provide electricity connections to all households.
In addition to expanding access, India is also committed to reducing its carbon
footprint and transitioning to a low-carbon economy. The government has set
ambitious targets for renewable energy capacity, such as achieving 450 GW of
renewable energy by 2030. This includes increasing the share of solar, wind, and
other renewable sources in the energy mix.

To achieve these goals, India is focusing on enhancing energy efficiency,

promoting energy conservation, and encouraging the adoption of clean
technologies. The government is also exploring innovative financing mechanisms
and public-private partnerships to accelerate the deployment of clean energy
projects.

A legislative framework's ability to promote, enforce, and monitor sex-based

equality and non- discrimination is an indicator. There are numerous legal
frameworks that can be used to encourage and enforce sex-based non-
discrimination. This is evaluated in the SDG Tracker across a variety of
 metrics, including hiring, equal pay, marital rape, and property rights, among
others (see also the "extra charts").
The aim is to eradicate all types of prejudice against women and girls worldwide
by 2030.

This necessitates the establishment of legislative structures to enforce gender

equality across all nations.

The percentage of seats held by women in local and national governments and
parliaments serves as an indicator.

This is calculated as the proportion of women who served in national legislatures

and held ministerial positions for each nation during a specific year.

Goal: By 2030, ensuring that women have equal chances for leadership at all
levels of political decision-making as well as full and effective involvement.
By sex, age, and location, the indicator represents the percentage of time spent on
unpaid domestic and care duties.
This is represented by the daily average for both men and women who perform
unpaid domestic and caregiving tasks.
Goal: Recognize and respect unpaid care and household work by the year
2030, and encourage shared accountability within the home and family.

There are no clearly defined objectives for the distribution and

acknowledgement of unpaid employment

Trend Analysis of UNSDG Indicators

To assess the progress made towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals (UNSDGs), it is important to analyze the trends of key indicators for each goal. Here's a
summary of the trend analysis for the top 5 UNSDGs prioritized in India and the top 3
performing countries:

Goal 1: No Poverty

India has made significant progress in reducing poverty in the last few decades, with the poverty
rate declining from 45% in 1993 to 13.4% in 2016. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a
significant impact on poverty reduction efforts, with an estimated increase of 75 million people
falling into extreme poverty in 2020. The top 3 performing countries for this goal are Norway,
Denmark, and Switzerland, with poverty rates of 0.5%, 1.8%, and 2.3%, respectively.

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

India has made progress in reducing hunger and malnutrition, with the prevalence of
undernourishment declining from 18.2% in 2000 to 14.5% in 2020. However, challenges remain
in terms of ensuring food security and reducing disparities in access to food. The top 3
performing countries for this goal are France, Japan, and Canada, with low rates of
undernourishment and high food availability scores.

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

India has made progress in improving health outcomes in recent years, with a decline in maternal
mortality rate and an increase in life expectancy. However, challenges remain in terms of
improving access to healthcare and reducing the burden of communicable diseases. The top 3
performing countries for this goal are Japan, Singapore, and Spain, with high life expectancies
and low rates of communicable diseases.

Goal 4: Quality Education

India has made progress in improving access to education, with significant increases in
enrollment rates in primary, secondary, and tertiary education. However, challenges remain in
terms of improving the quality of education and reducing disparities in access and outcomes. The
top 3 performing countries for this goal are Finland, South Korea, and Canada, with high scores
on education quality indicators.

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

India has made significant progress in increasing the share of renewable energy in its energy mix
in recent years, with the renewable energy capacity reaching 136 GW in 2021. However,
challenges remain in terms of expanding energy access and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The
top 3 performing countries for this goal are Sweden, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, with high shares
of renewable energy in their energy mix.
Suggestions for Improving India's
Achievement of UNSDGs
India has made progress in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
(UNSDGs), but there are still challenges in ensuring their successful implementation. To
improve their achievement of the top 5 prioritized UNSDGs, India can focus on:

Goal 1: No Poverty

 Implementing targeted poverty reduction programs to address disparities in income and wealth
distribution.
 Improving access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and housing for
marginalized communities.

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

 Promoting sustainable agriculture practices, such as organic farming and agroforestry, to

increase food production while preserving the environment.
 Investing in irrigation infrastructure and improving water management techniques to enhance
agricultural productivity and reduce crop losses.
 Enhancing access to nutritious and diverse food by supporting small-scale farmers and
promoting local food systems.

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

 Strengthening primary healthcare infrastructure to improve access to essential health services.

 Investing in research and development to address the burden of infectious and non-
communicable diseases.

Goal 4: Quality Education

 Improving the quality of education by investing in teacher training and curriculum development.
 Addressing disparities in access to education by implementing targeted programs for
marginalized communities.

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

 Expanding access to modern energy services in rural and remote areas through decentralized
renewable energy solutions.
 Increasing investment in research and development to improve the efficiency and affordability
of renewable energy technologies.

Conclusion
India has made significant progress in advancing sustainable development, particularly in its
prioritization of the top five UNSDGs and successful implementation of various programs to
achieve them. For example:

SDG 1: No Poverty

India has made significant strides in reducing poverty, with the poverty rate falling from 45% in
1994 to 22% in 2011. Programs like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act have
provided employment opportunities and social protection to millions of people.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

India has made progress in addressing hunger and malnutrition, but challenges remain. The
government has implemented programs like the National Food Security Act and the Mid-Day
Meal Scheme to improve food security and nutrition for vulnerable populations, especially
children and pregnant women. However, there is a need for continued efforts to ensure access to
nutritious food for all.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

India has made progress in improving maternal and child health, with the maternal mortality rate
declining from 254 per 100,000 live births in 2004-06 to 130 in 2014-16 and the under-five
mortality rate declining from 126 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 34 in 2019. Programs like the
National Health Mission have improved access to healthcare services and infrastructure.

SDG 4: Quality Education

India has made efforts to improve access to quality education, but challenges remain in ensuring
equitable access and improving learning outcomes. The government has implemented programs
like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Right to Education Act to promote universal education.
However, there is a need for continued investment in education infrastructure, teacher training,
and curriculum development to ensure quality education for all children.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

India has made significant progress in expanding access to electricity, with the electrification rate
increasing from 43% in 2000 to 99% in 2019. The government's ambitious renewable energy
targets have also led to rapid growth in solar and wind energy installations.
Case Studies/Examples of
Successful Implementation in
India
India's National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) has
provided livelihood security and reduced poverty levels through the
creation of rural employment opportunities.

The "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" (Save the Daughter, Educate the
Daughter) campaign has played a vital role in improving gender ratios,
promoting education, and empowering women.
The "Clean India" campaign, popularly known as Swachh Bharat
Abhiyan, has significantly improved access to sanitation facilities and
raised awareness about cleanliness.