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Source: This post on the Progress in Achieving SDG Targets has been created based on the article “More effort needed – India’s track record better than APAC peers on SDGs” published in “Business Standard” on 19th February 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Indian Economy – Issues relating to development.
News: The article discusses the progress in achieving SDGs in the Asia and the Pacific region, especially India.
Read in detail about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) here.
What is the status of achieving SDGs in the Asia and the Pacific region?
According to the UNESCAP’s recent “SDG Progress Report” for the Asia and the Pacific region:
- Behind the Deadline: There is a 32-year delay in attaining the goals, given the current rate of progress. Of the 116 measurable targets, only 11% are set to be achieved by 2030.
- Differences in implementation: There are differences in implementation across various segments of population, based on gender, region, education level, and other demographic factors.
- Maximum progress: It has been made on goals 1 and 9, i.e. “no poverty” and “sustainable industry, innovation and infrastructure”, respectively.
- Negative progress: Climate action (goal 13) has continued to regress in the region.
- Positive progress: The report has commended the efforts of certain countries. For instance, Vietnam’s efforts to prioritise technical and vocational education and digitally empower its migrant workers. Also, Bangladesh has improved maternal and perinatal-death surveillance and response systems.
What is India’s situation with respect to achieving SDGs?
As per the report, India’s track record is better than that of many of its peers in the region.
| Reverse Progress | No Progress | Progress |
| India saw deterioration on 36 indicators. India endured maximum reversal in progress in zero hunger (goal 2), decent work and economic growth (goal 8), and life on land (goal 15). These include investment in agriculture; suicide rates; treatment of waste-water; international agreements on hazardous waste; fiscal, wage, and social-protection policies; expenditure on research and development; expenditure on biodiversity and ecosystems; land degradation; and employment in manufacturing. | India stagnated on 27 indicators. India made no real progress for “life below water” (goal 14). There was either stagnation or reversal in targets under this goal. | India performed well on 85 indicators. Improvements were seen in access to affordable and clean energy (goal 7), industry, innovation and infrastructure (goal 9), and good health and wellbeing (goal 3).For goal 4, i.e. provision of quality education, the country saw tremendous positive strides. |
Overall, India’s performance remains mixed.
What should be the way forward?
Focusing on Data Availability: Data unavailability is a major hindrance in accurately measuring countries’ advancement on various SDGs.
Question for practice:
What is the status of achieving SDGs in the Asia and the Pacific region, and India in particular? What should be done to speed up progress?
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