India’s Progress in Sustainable Development: Key Policies and Achievements

India, home to over 1.4 billion people, has been on an ambitious journey to align its development with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty to rapidly expanding renewable energy capacity, the country has made notable strides. But this progress comes with significant challenges – from persistent gender inequality to rising carbon emissions. Let’s break down India’s key sustainable development policies, what they’ve achieved, and where the gaps remain.

Tracking India’s SDG progress: the NITI Aayog SDG India Index 🔗

India’s primary tool for measuring its domestic progress on the SDGs is the SDG India Index, developed and maintained by NITI Aayog – the country’s apex public policy think tank. First released in 2018, this index evaluates how well each state and union territory is performing across 16 SDGs using 113 indicators aligned with the National Indicator Framework.

The results have been encouraging. India’s composite SDG score improved from 57 in 2018 (the baseline) to 66 in 2020-21, and further to 71 in the latest 2023-24 edition released in July 2024. The most significant improvements were seen in Climate Action (SDG 13), which jumped from 54 to 67, and No Poverty (SDG 1), which rose from 60 to 72. Kerala and Uttarakhand emerged as top-performing states, each scoring 79, while Bihar lagged at 57.

The index has also pushed competitive and cooperative federalism – encouraging states to learn from each other and integrate SDG targets into their own development plans. That said, Gender Equality (SDG 5) received the lowest score among all goals, and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) actually declined from 67 to 65, highlighting persistent wealth disparities.

Sashakt Bharat – Sabal Bharat: empowered and resilient India 🔗

One of India’s most cited achievements in sustainable development is the dramatic reduction in multidimensional poverty. According to NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2023-24, multidimensional poverty nearly halved from 24.8% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-21. More recent estimates suggest it may have further dropped to around 11.28% in 2022-23, with approximately 24.82 crore (248 million) people moving out of multidimensional poverty between 2013-14 and 2022-23.

This progress has been driven by enhanced access to nutrition, child health services, education, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, and housing. Programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (which has built over 4 crore houses), Jal Jeevan Mission (providing tap water to 80% of rural households), and targeted social protection schemes have all contributed to building resilience among India’s most vulnerable communities.

Swachh Bharat – Swasth Bharat: clean and healthy India 🔗

The Swachh Bharat Mission 🔗

Launched on 2 October 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) aimed to make India open-defecation free. Phase 1, completed in 2019, resulted in the construction of over 12 crore (120 million) household toilets and achieved 100% open-defecation free status in rural areas, according to government data. This was a landmark milestone, achieved 11 years ahead of the UN SDG 6.2 target of 2030.

According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme 2025 update, India’s national open defecation rate declined to 7% in 2024, with urban open defecation reported as effectively eliminated. Phase 2 (2020-2025) has focused on sustaining these gains, with solid and liquid waste management becoming the next priority. The World Health Organisation has noted that the mission could save approximately three lakh (300,000) lives.

Ayushman Bharat: universal health coverage 🔗

India’s approach to healthcare under the SDG framework is anchored in Ayushman Bharat, launched in 2018. It has two key components. First, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (formerly Health and Wellness Centres), numbering approximately 1.74 lakh across the country, provide comprehensive primary healthcare at the community level. Second, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) offers health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. Over 36 crore Ayushman cards have been issued, with nearly 30,000 hospitals empanelled. In 2024, the scheme was extended to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income.

India also conducted one of the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination drives, administering over 220 crore vaccine doses, further demonstrating its healthcare delivery capacity at scale.

Samagra Bharat – Saksham Bharat: inclusive and entrepreneurial India 🔗

Financial inclusion through the JAM trinity 🔗

The Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity has been a game-changer for financial inclusion in India. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana has resulted in the opening of over 54 crore (540 million) bank accounts, with a total deposit balance exceeding ₹2.39 lakh crore. The Aadhaar system now covers over 90% of the population with unique identity numbers, while mobile penetration has enabled Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) to reach over 200 million women, eliminating middlemen and reducing corruption in welfare delivery.

This digital infrastructure has also powered programmes like PM-KISAN (direct income support to farmers), PM SVANidhi (collateral-free loans for street vendors), and various insurance and pension schemes for vulnerable sections. The result is a more transparent, efficient, and inclusive welfare system.

Nutrition and social protection 🔗

Social inclusion efforts also extend to universal access to nutrition through programmes like the National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan) and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which provides 5 kg of free food grains per person monthly to over 81 crore beneficiaries. The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme allows migrant workers to access rations anywhere in India, addressing one of the most persistent challenges in India’s food security delivery.

Satat Bharat – Sanatan Bharat: sustainable India 🔗

Renewable energy expansion 🔗

India’s clean energy story is one of the most remarkable aspects of its sustainable development journey. The country has committed to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 under its Panchamrit climate framework announced at COP26.

Progress has been rapid. India’s total installed renewable energy capacity reached approximately 254 GW by November 2025, up from just 76 GW in 2014 – a more than threefold increase. In FY 2024-25 alone, India added a record 29.52 GW of renewable energy capacity. Solar capacity has grown from 2.82 GW in 2014 to over 107 GW by mid-2025, while solar tariffs fell by 65% during the same period. Globally, India now ranks 4th in total renewable energy capacity, 4th in wind power, and 3rd in solar power, according to IRENA RE Statistics 2025.

A major milestone was achieved in June 2025, when non-fossil fuel sources crossed 50% of India’s total installed electricity capacity – fulfilling a key COP26 commitment five years ahead of the 2030 deadline.

Clean cooking and energy access 🔗

India has achieved near-universal electrification, with 100% of villages and households connected to the grid. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has provided clean cooking fuel (LPG) connections to over 80 million poor households, significantly reducing indoor air pollution and improving health outcomes, especially for women. The UJALA scheme has distributed over 36 crore LED bulbs, contributing to energy savings and reduced CO₂ emissions.

Climate action and eco-restoration 🔗

Beyond energy, India has taken steps in disaster-resilient infrastructure through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), co-founded by India, and in land restoration, with a target to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. Forest cover has also grown, increasing from 698,712 sq km in 2013 to 715,343 sq km in 2023, as per the India State of Forest Report 2023.

Where India still falls short: global SDG rankings and ongoing challenges 🔗

Global ranking: improving but still behind 🔗

While India’s domestic index shows steady progress, its global SDG ranking tells a more nuanced story. In the Sustainable Development Report 2025, released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), India ranked 99th out of 167 nations – a significant improvement from 109th in 2024 and 112th in 2023. This marks the first time India has entered the top 100 countries in this assessment.

However, only about one-third of India’s SDG targets are on track to be met by 2030. India is firmly progressing on just two goals – No Poverty (SDG 1) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10). Progress on goals like Zero Hunger, Sustainable Cities, and Responsible Consumption is either stagnating or insufficient. Most concerning is Climate Action (SDG 13), which shows a worsening trend, primarily because total greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production continue to rise.

Key areas of concern 🔗

Gender equality remains India’s weakest SDG area. Issues like low female labour force participation, an adverse sex ratio at birth in some states, and limited women’s ownership of land and assets continue to drag down progress. Quality education (SDG 4) has improved but the challenge is now about learning outcomes and employability rather than access alone.

Water sustainability is another critical gap. While tap water connections have expanded, freshwater withdrawals remain unsustainable, and water reuse in industrial settings is limited. Experts warn that without a shift towards water circularity – cleaning and reusing industrial water rather than drawing fresh supplies – India’s water goals will remain elusive.

Urban challenges are intensifying too. Nearly one in four urban Indians lives in slums or informal settlements. Air pollution remains severe, with a World Bank study finding that 100% of India’s population is exposed to outdoor air pollution above WHO safety limits. Enforcement of environmental regulations in cities remains weak.

On the energy front, despite impressive renewable capacity additions, coal still generates over 70% of India’s electricity. Renewables account for about 50% of installed capacity but only 22-24% of actual electricity generation, because solar and wind are intermittent. Without faster grid integration of renewables and a reduction in coal dependency, the clean energy transition will remain incomplete.

The road ahead 🔗

India’s sustainable development journey is a story of real progress alongside persistent challenges. The country has demonstrated that large-scale programmes – from Swachh Bharat to Ayushman Bharat to the JAM trinity – can deliver measurable results when backed by political will, digital infrastructure, and data-driven monitoring. The NITI Aayog SDG India Index has been instrumental in fostering accountability among states.

But as the 2030 deadline approaches, the gap between domestic achievements and global benchmarks remains significant. Addressing gender inequality, strengthening environmental enforcement, accelerating the shift from coal to renewables in actual generation (not just capacity), improving urban living conditions, and ensuring water sustainability are all critical next steps. India’s progress so far shows what’s possible; the next five years will determine whether the country can convert ambition into comprehensive, lasting outcomes.

What do you think? Can India realistically close its gaps in gender equality and climate action before the 2030 SDG deadline? And what role should states and local governments play in accelerating progress on the ground?

References

1. https://sdgs.un.org/goals
2. https://sdgindiaindex.niti.gov.in/
3. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2032857
4. https://www.ibef.org/government-schemes/swachh-bharat-mission
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swachh_Bharat_Mission
6. https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/pms-profile/
7. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=154545&ModuleId=3
8. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?id=155063&NoteId=155063&ModuleId=3&reg=3&lang=2
9. https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/profiles/india/
10. https://india.mongabay.com/2025/07/india-enters-the-top-100-in-global-sdg-rankings-but-environmental-goals-lag/