Published on Jul 8, 2025
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PIB Summaries 08 July 2025
PIB Summaries 08 July 2025

Content:

  1. NITI Aayog releases second edition of the North Eastern Region District SDG Index (2023-24)

NITI Aayog releases second edition of the North Eastern Region District SDG Index (2023-24)


Overview & Significance

  • Released by: NITI Aayog and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), with technical support from UNDP.
  • Edition: Second edition; first released on 26 August 2021.
  • Objective: To measure district-level SDG progress across 121 districts in 8 Northeastern states.
  • Methodology: Based on the SDG India Index framework developed by NITI Aayog.
  • Utility: Facilitates evidence-based planning, identifies development gaps, and guides interventions.
  • Categories of Districts:
    • Achiever: Score = 100
    • Front Runner: 65–99
    • Performer: 50–64
    • Aspirant: <50

Relevance : GS 2(Governance )

Key Highlights

  • 85% of districts showed an increase in composite score over the previous edition.
  • All districts in Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura are in the Front Runner category.
  • Hnahthial (Mizoram)Top performer in NER with a score of 81.43.
  • Longding (Arunachal Pradesh): Lowest scoring district at 58.71.
  • Nagaland: For the first time, 3 districts feature in the Top 10.
  • Sikkim: Most consistent performance across districts (only 5.5-point score variation).
  • Tripura: High performers with low intra-state variation (6.5 points).
  • Mizoram and Nagaland: Strong performers but higher intra-state score variations (13.72 and 15.07 points, respectively).

SDG Goal-wise Insights

  • Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3): Improved scores in 93 districts.
  • Assam: Notable improvements in:
    • Zero Hunger (SDG 2)
    • Quality Education (SDG 4)
    • Clean Water & Sanitation (SDG 6)
    • Decent Work & Economic Growth (SDG 8)

State-wise Best & Worst Performing Districts

State Highest Scoring District Lowest Scoring District
Arunachal Pradesh Lower Dibang Valley (73.36) Longding (58.71)
Assam Dibrugarh (74.29) South Salmara-Mankachar (59.71)
Manipur Imphal West (73.21) Pherzawl (59.71)
Meghalaya East Khasi Hills (73.00) East Jaintia Hills (63.00)
Mizoram Hnahthial (81.43) Lawngtlai (67.71)
Nagaland Mokokchung (78.43) Zunheboto (63.36)
Sikkim Gangtok (76.64) Gyalshing (71.14)
Tripura Gomati (78.79) Dhalai (72.29)

Institutional Remarks

  • Suman Bery (Vice Chair, NITI Aayog): Emphasized the importance of achieving SDGs by 2030 as an intermediate step to Viksit Bharat @2047.
  • B.V.R. Subrahmanyam (CEO, NITI Aayog): Highlighted PM’s vision of Ashta Lakshmi and development of the NE region.
  • Chanchal Kumar (Secy, MoDoNER): Index helps identify gaps and informs efficient resource allocation.
  • Dr. Angela Lusigi (UNDP): Stressed data-to-action transformation for human development.

Implications & Takeaways

  • Reflects strong policy alignment, especially with flagship schemes like Aspirational Districts Programme.
  • Reinforces localization of SDGs with robust district-level monitoring.
  • Encourages cooperative federalism through collaborative monitoring and development.
  • Sets the foundation for targeted interventions and improved public service delivery in the Northeast.

NITI Aayog SDG India Index – Key Highlights

  • Launched: First introduced in 2018 to track India’s progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the state and UT level.
  • Prepared by: NITI Aayog, with support from UNDP India and technical expertise from GIZ (in earlier editions).
  • Framework: Aligned with the 17 SDGs adopted by UN Member States under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
  • Latest Edition: SDG Index 2023 includes 100+ indicators across social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
  • Coverage: Tracks all States and Union Territories, and increasingly also district-level performance (e.g., North Eastern Region Index, Aspirational Districts).
  • Scoring Categories:
    • Achiever: 100
    • Front Runner: 65–99
    • Performer: 50–64
    • Aspirant: Below 50
  • Top Performers (2023):
    • In 2023–24Kerala and Uttarakhand jointly topped the Index with a score of 79, followed by Tamil Nadu (78) and Goa & Himachal Pradesh (77)