India has achieved a historic milestone by ranking 99th out of 167 countries in the Sustainable Development Report 2025, published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). This is the first time India has featured among the top 100 nations, signaling significant progress toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What Are SDGs?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, aimed at ending poverty, ensuring quality education, gender equality, climate action, clean energy access, and more — by the year 2030.
India’s Climb in the Global SDG Index
India has shown consistent improvement in SDG performance over recent years:
| Year | India’s Rank |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 121st |
| 2023 | 112th |
| 2024 | 109th |
| 2025 | 99th |
India’s SDG score stands at 67 out of 100, reflecting accelerated efforts in several key development areas like clean energy, education, digital infrastructure, and social equity.
Comparison with Neighboring Countries
| Country | SDG Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Maldives | 53 | — |
| Bhutan | 74 | 70.5 |
| Nepal | 85 | 68.6 |
| Sri Lanka | 93 | — |
| India | 99 | 67 |
| Bangladesh | 114 | 63.9 |
| Pakistan | 140 | 57.0 |
India has now surpassed several of its South Asian neighbors and is closing the gap with upper middle-income economies.
Global Highlights from the SDG Report 2025
- Top Performers: Finland, Sweden, Denmark continue to dominate the SDG rankings.
- United States: Ranked 44th with a score of 75.2.
- China: Ranked 49th with a score of 74.4.
- Concerning Trends: Only 17% of SDG targets are currently on track to be achieved by 2030.
- Key Obstacles: Climate change, biodiversity loss, conflicts, and limited financing are major roadblocks.
Key Challenges Ahead
Despite the progress, India and the world face several pressing challenges:
- Environmental issues: Biodiversity loss and climate inaction remain global pain points.
- Uneven progress: Many goals such as “Zero Hunger” and “Quality Education” need faster implementation.
- Financing gaps: Developing countries struggle to fund their SDG strategies adequately.
What’s Next?
To further strengthen SDG performance:
- The upcoming 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Spain (July 2025) is expected to mobilize greater international investment in SDGs.
- India can benefit from green financing, global partnerships, and innovation-driven policies to reach its 2030 targets.
India’s entry into the Top 100 of the SDG Index is a significant achievement that showcases its commitment to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development. While challenges persist, the momentum is strong — and with consistent policy action, India can aim even higher in the global development arena.
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