About the Index
The SDG Index is the centrepiece of the annual Sustainable Development Report, published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The report provides a global assessment of how countries are progressing toward achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by UN member states in September 2015 under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The SDG Index score ranges from 0 to 100, where 100 indicates full achievement of all 17 SDGs. Countries are assessed using a traffic-light dashboard system:
- Green — SDG achieved
- Yellow — challenges remain
- Orange — significant challenges
- Red — major challenges
The 2024 edition was written by independent experts at the SDG Transformation Center, an initiative of the SDSN, and was released ahead of the UN Summit of the Future.
India’s Performance
India’s Performance
SDR 2025 (Latest Edition — June 24, 2025)
India ranked 99th out of 167 countries with an SDG Index score of 67, entering the Top 100 for the first time in the report’s 10-year history. The 10-place improvement from 109th in 2024 is India’s largest single-year jump.
Areas of progress:
- SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, Infrastructure) — digital infrastructure leap (UPI, broadband, 5G rollout)
- SDG 3 (Good Health) — healthcare access improvements under Ayushman Bharat
- SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) — electricity access expansion; 50% non-fossil milestone (June 2025)
- SDG 6 (Clean Water) — Jal Jeevan Mission progress (81% rural tap connections)
Areas of continued challenge:
- SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) — child wasting 18.7% (world’s second highest), stunting 32.9%
- SDG 5 (Gender Equality) — women’s labour force participation remains low
- SDG 13 (Climate Action) — stagnating or declining; absolute emissions rising
- SDG 16 (Peace, Justice) — institutional accountability concerns
SDR 2024 (Previous Edition)
India was 109th out of 166 countries with score 63.99 (for reference).
Regional / BRICS Comparison (SDR 2025)
| Country | SDG Rank (2025) | SDG Score |
|---|---|---|
| China | ~68th | ~72 |
| Brazil | ~62nd | ~73 |
| Bhutan | 74th | — |
| Nepal | 85th | — |
| Sri Lanka | 93rd | — |
| India | 99th | 67 |
| South Africa | ~110th | ~64 |
| Bangladesh | 114th | — |
| Pakistan | 140th | — |
Key Highlights of SDR 2025
- Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Denmark) dominate the top ranks
- India’s entry into Top 100 is historic — the first time since the SDR was launched in 2015
- The 10th edition’s focus theme: Financing SDGs by 2030 and reforming the Global Financial Architecture (GFA)
- Global SDG progress remains off-track — most targets will not be met by 2030
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: SDG Index issuing body (SDSN), India’s rank — SDR 2025: 99th/167 (score 67); SDR 2024: 109th/166 (score 63.99); total SDGs (17), top country (Finland), 2030 deadline, adoption year (2015, UNGA) Mains GS-2: India’s SDG challenges, NITI Aayog SDG India Index, localising SDGs, welfare scheme mapping to SDGs Mains GS-3: Sustainable development, inclusive growth, climate action, clean energy transition, SDG financing Interview: “India broke into the SDG top 100 for the first time in 2025 but environmental and hunger goals remain lagging. How would you prioritise?”
