Content :

1. North East India’s SDG Progress (2023–24)
2. A Decade of Building Skills & Empowering Dreams

North East India’s SDG Progress (2023–24)

Overview & Coverage

• 121 out of 131 NE districts assessed — expanded from 103 (2021–22).
• Tracks 15 out of 17 SDGs using 84 indicators (41 from central, 43 from state sources).
• SDG 11 included only for 79 urban districts; SDG 14 excluded; SDG 17 minimally relevant.
• Classification:
  • Achiever (Score = 100)
  • Front Runner (65–99.99)
  • Performer (50–64.99)
  • Aspirant (<50)

Relevance : GS 2(Governance)

Key Outcomes

• 103 districts (85%) are now Front Runners (vs 62% in 2021–22).
• Top Scoring District: Hnahthial (Mizoram) – 81.43
• All districts in Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura are Front Runners.

SDG-Wise Progress (2021–22 → 2023–24)

Top 10 Performing Districts (NER)

• Mizoram: Hnahthial, Champhai, Kolasib
• Tripura: Gomati, West Tripura, South Tripura
• Nagaland: Mokokchung, Kohima, Dimapur
• Sikkim: Gangtok

State-wise Highlights

1. Mizoram
   1. 100% districts Front Runners
   1. Best: Hnahthial (NER’s highest score)
   1. Strong in SDGs 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16

• Sikkim
  • All 6 districts Front Runners
  • Smallest intra-state gap (5.5 pts)
  • Best: Gangtok | Balanced across SDGs

• Tripura
  • All 8 districts Front Runners
  • Top: Gomati | Strong across 9 SDGs
  • Low disparity (6.5 pts between best-worst)

• Nagaland
  • 9 of 11 districts Front Runners
  • Wide performance gap (15.07 pts)
  • Strong in SDGs 2, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15

• Assam
  • 89% districts are Front Runners
  • Best: Dibrugarh | Needs work in justice systems

• Arunachal Pradesh
  • Only 59% Front Runners
  • Best: Lower Dibang Valley | Worst: Longding (NER’s lowest score – 58.71)
  • Challenges in SDGs 9, 13

• Manipur
  • 75% Front Runners
  • Top: Imphal West | Weak in SDG 10 (Inequality)

• Meghalaya
  • 84% Front Runners
  • Top: East Khasi Hills | Weak in Education (SDG 4)

Key Takeaways

• High Performers: Health, Education, Water, Gender Equality, Economic Growth.
• Lagging Areas: Climate Action (SDG 13), Inequality (SDG 10), Responsible Consumption (SDG 12).
• Flagship Schemes: Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat, Aspirational Districts Programme contributed strongly.
• Disparities Persist:
  • Nagaland: 15.07 pt gap between best-worst districts
  • Sikkim & Tripura: Least disparities, highest uniformity

Governance & Systemic Impact

• Data Systems: Significant improvements in district-level data reporting.
• Localisation: Strong correlation between state-driven planning and SDG performance.
• Peer Learning: Index fosters competitive federalism & inter-district collaboration.

Conclusion

• The NER SDG Index 2023–24 marks major progress in NE India’s sustainable development landscape.
• 85% of districts now Front Runners, up from 62% in 2021–22.
• Balanced progress across most SDGs, but climate resilience and inequality remain critical challenges.
• The Index stands out as a planning, performance, and policy tool — not just a ranking mechanism.

A Decade of Building Skills & Empowering Dreams

Macro Achievements (2015–2025)

• 6+ crore Indians empowered through skill development schemes since 2014.
• 1.63 crore+ candidates trained under PMKVY alone across four phases.
• Over 25 lakh candidates trained under PMKVY 4.0 (as of July 11, 2025).
• Training expanded to futuristic domains: AI, Robotics, IoT, Drones, Mechatronics.
• 45% of PMKVY trainees are women, with significant SC/ST/OBC representation.

Relevance : GS 2(Schemes , Governance)

Skill India Mission (SIM) – Structural Integration (2022–26)

• Unified under a single Central Sector Scheme approved in 2025.
• Schemes merged:
  •  PMKVY 4.0 (Short-term skill training & RPL)
  •  PM-NAPS (Apprenticeship & industry engagement)
  •  JSS (Literacy-focused vocational training)
• Two new Centres of Excellence set up at NSTIs (Hyderabad & Chennai) for high-quality skilling.

PMKVY: Phased Evolution & Milestones

• STT placement rate till PMKVY 3.0: 42.8%.

PMKVY 4.0: New Features & Focus (2022–2026)

• Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH): end-to-end digital integration of skilling, employment, and entrepreneurship.
• Academic Bank of Credits: Transferable skill credits to bridge education–vocational divide.
• Rs. 1244.52 crore utilized across states/UTs by Dec 2024.
• Encourages career-oriented skilling, not just placement tracking.

Innovative & Inclusive Initiatives

• Special Projects:
  • Bru-tribe training in Tripura (2,500+)
  • Jail inmates in Assam, Manipur
  • PANKH project: 13,834 trained (70% women)
• Traditional Skills:
  • 2,243 women trained in Namda craft (J&K)
  • 9,605 artisans skilled via RPL (J&K, Nagaland)
• COVID-19 Response: 1.2 lakh healthcare workers trained as COVID Warriors.
• Skill Hub Initiative: 1.23 lakh trained through school/college-based hubs (aligned with NEP 2020).
• Mainstreaming with National Missions: Skills integrated into:
  • PM Surya Ghar
  • Vibrant Villages Programme
  • Jal Jeevan Mission
  • Green Hydrogen Mission

Supporting Schemes in the Skilling Ecosystem

• Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)
• Focused on non-literates, school dropouts (15–45 yrs).
• 26+ lakh trained from FY 2018–19 to 2023–24.
• Emphasis on women, SC/ST/OBC, minorities in rural & low-income urban areas.

• PM-NAPS (Apprenticeship)
• 43.47 lakh apprentices engaged as of May 2025.
• Over 51,000 establishments participating.

• PM Vishwakarma Yojana
• Launched: Sept 2023 | Budget: ₹13,000 crore
• Supports 18 traditional trades (e.g. blacksmiths, cobblers, potters).
• As of July 2025:
  • 2.7 crore+ applications submitted
  • 29 lakh+ registrations completed

• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
• Launched: 2014 | Target: rural youth
• Till Nov 2024:
  • 16.9 lakh trained
  • 10.97 lakh placed (~65% placement)

• Rural Self Employment & Training Institutes (RSETIs)
• Bank-led residential entrepreneurial training.
• Candidates trained:
  • 2016–17: 22.89 lakh2025–26 (till Jun): 56.69 lakh

Thematic Impact

 Conclusion

• PMKVY = Backbone of India’s short-term skilling ecosystem over the past decade.
• Transformed from placement-linked certification to flexible, future-ready career empowerment.
• Integrated with national missions, NEP 2020, and digital governance frameworks.
• PMKVY stands as a cornerstone of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat, ensuring India’s youth are not only employable, but also entrepreneurial and globally competitive.