Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

With the aim of taking forward the success of Millennium Development Goals, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, in its 70th Session held on 25th September 2015, adopted the document titled “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” consisting of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and associated 169 targets. The SDGs are a comprehensive list of global goals integrating social, economic and environmental dimensions of development. Further, the SDGs are universal (for all nations - developed, developing and least developed), interconnected and indivisible and hence necessitate comprehensive and participatory approaches in bringing everybody together so that no one is left behind. Countries have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review, at the national level with regard to the progress made in implementing the goals and targets till the year 2030.

The 17 SDGs and associated 169 targets came into force with effect from 01st January, 2016

Initially a set of 231 distinct global indicators were identified by the United Nations for monitoring the progress of Global SDGs and associated targets
The SDGs are not legally binding but have become de-facto international obligations and have potential to reorient domestic spending priorities of the countries till 2030.
Countries are expected to take ownership and establish a national framework for achieving these goals. Implementation and success will depend on countries own sustainable development policies, plans and programmes.
The 2030 Agenda also underscored the fact that quality, reliable and disaggregated data would be needed for measurement of progress on the targets and for ensuring that “No One is Left Behind”.

SDG Dashboard

The India SDG Dashboard developed by the MoSPI in collaboration with the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO)

SDG Dashboard

The India SDG Dashboard developed by the MoSPI in collaboration with the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO)

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SDG Unit Officials

SDG Indicators

The Global Indicator Framework (GIF) for Sustainable Development Goals was developed by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) constituted by United Nations Statistical Commission and agreed upon at the 48th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission held in March 2017.

SDG Global Indicators

Key Feature

Initially, a total of 244 indicators were listed in the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) out of which some were repeated under two or three different targets making the distinct global indicators as 232.
The global indicator framework was later adopted by the General Assembly on 6 July 2017 and is contained in the Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/71/313), Annex.
According to the Resolution, the indicator framework will be refined annually and reviewed comprehensively by the Statistical Commission at its fifty-first session in March 2020 and its fifty-sixth session, to be held in 2025.
The United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) in its 51st session held in March2020 has reviewed the Global Indicator Framework.
UN Statistical Division has identified Custodian Agencies responsible for the methodological development of indicators, establishment of data flow mechanisms, monitoring and dissemination of data on each of the global indicator.
Custodian Agencies are generally UN bodies or internationally recognized agencies. The Custodian Agency is required to involve the National Statistical Offices of the countries in the indicator development process.
The global reporting on SDGs will be done by UN based on the Global Indicator Framework using data from the National Official Statistical System compiled by the Custodian Agencies.
Annual refinements of indicators are included in the indicator framework as they occur. In line with the mandate of the group, the IAEG-SDGs proposed 36 major changes to the framework in the form of replacements, revisions, additions and deletions as part of the 2020 Comprehensive Review, which were approved by the 51st Statistical Commission in March 2020.
The global indicator framework of SDGs after the review includes 231 unique indicators currently. Please note that the total number of indicators listed in the GIF of SDG indicators, after 2020 Comprehensive Review, is 247 including some repeated indicators under two or three different targets.

India is committed to implementing the SDGs based on the nationally defined indicators responding to national priorities and needs. NITI Aayog was made responsible for overall implementation of SDGs in the country, whereas, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) was entrusted with the responsibility of development of National Indicator Framework (NIF) on SDGs, in sync with GIF, for monitoring of the SDGs in India.

SDG National Indicator Framework (NIF) version 3.0

National Indicator Framework Version 1.0

National Indicator Framework Version 2.0

National Indicator Framework Version 2.1

NIF handbook, released date 29th June 2019

In 2018, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) developed a National Indicator Framework (NIF) on SDGs, in sync with GIF, consisting of 306 national indictors along with identified data sources and periodicity following due consultation process with concerned Ministries/Departments, UN Agencies and other stakeholders.
The review of SDG indicators in NIF is a continuing process and MoSPI in consultation with other stakeholders examines the suitability of existing indicators as well as new indicators for the relevant target(s).
At present, the NIF consists of nearly 300 national indicators and about 50 data source Ministries/Departments from Official Statistical System are involved in the process of providing data on SDGs.
Alongside, in its effort, towards integrating SDGs into country’s on-going national and sub-national policies and programmes, at national level, NITI Aayog has mapped the SDGs with centrally sponsored programmes of concerned Central Ministries/Departments.
Presently, at national level, data flow from Official Statistical System and MoSPI coordinates with the line Ministries for institutionalizing the data flow for SDG indicators.
NIF is the backbone of monitoring of SDGs at the national level and provides appropriate direction to the policy makers and the implementing agencies of various schemes and programmes. Keeping in view the localization of SDGs, States/UTs are also carrying out similar exercises at State and District level. MoSPI is coordinating with the States/UTs in this exercise.

High Level Steering Committee

The Government has constituted a High Level Steering Committee (HLSC) for SDGs under the Chairmanship of Chief Statistician of India (CSI) & Secretary, MoSPI with members from NITI Aayog, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Ministry of Finance and MoSPI to periodically review and refine the NIF.

VIEW HLSC NOTIFICATION

Sectoral Committees on SDGs

MoSPI has constituted six Sectoral Committees for working on the methodologies of SDG indicators. These Sectoral Committees consisting of members inter-alia, from relevant data source Ministries, UN Agencies/Development Partners, Research Institutions will mainly work together for evolving methodology for Tier III global indicators, examination of Tier I and Tier II global indicators in Indian context and identifying data gaps in monitoring of SDGs.

These Sectoral Committee for SDGs are on following themes

Poverty, Agriculture and Food Security

Labour & Employment and Education

Health and Gender related issues

Environment and Climate change

Good Governance and Capacity Building

Big Data, AI, Block Chain and Machine learning for SDGs

Order constituting Sectoral Committees

SIF Guidelines

Any statement on the SDGs at the national level is incomplete without the associated commentary on the status prevailing in the States. MoSPI is providing adequate technical support to the States, in development of comprehensive and inclusive SDG Monitoring Framework.

The Ministry has developed and circulated guidelines for development of State Indicator Framework (SIF) to facilitate and assist States/UTs for development of a State Level Monitoring Framework in respective State/UTs.

The objective of these guidelines is to facilitate and assist State Governments in the development of a State Level Monitoring Framework including institutional arrangements to track the progress on the SDGs by building on the existing National Indicator Framework.

Guidelines for Development of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) State Indicator Framework (SIF) (Version 1.1)

Training/Publicity

MoSPI conducts Training/Workshop/Seminars/Conferences on SDGs inter-alia to assist the States/UTs in developing the State Indicator Framework (SIF), to deliberate on the concept and methodology on certain SDG indicators, brainstorming with different stakeholders and creating awareness on SDGs.

MoSPI successfully conducted the following trainings and workshops

MoSPI successfully conducted Five regional workshop during year 2018-19 covering all 36 States/UT’s in collaboration with UNICEF to sensitize States about SDGs, development of State Monitoring Framework and capacity building of State Statistical Personnel on SDGs.

MoSPI has also conducted sensitization programme for Universities/Colleges students for understanding of SDG monitoring framework

Annual Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (COCSSO) was conducted by MoSPI with central theme as SDGs during 11th-12th November 2019 at Kolkata. The States/UTs were provided technical support for development of State/District Indicator Framework on SDG for monitoring of SDGs at State/UT and sub-state level.

Eighth International Conference on Agricultural Statistics 2019 (ICAS-VIII) with Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and ICAR-IASRI and others in New Delhi during November, 18-21, 2019 at New Delhi.