In a huge milestone in India’s sustainable development journey, India has, for the first time, breached into the top 100 of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index at 99 out of 193 countries in the 2025 edition of the UN Sustainable Development Report published by UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and headlined by economist Jeffrey Sachs The highest rank for India in SDG ranks.
India is now in the top 100 SDG ranks for the first time with a score of 67 out of a total 100. The 2025 SDG Index arrives at a crucial national development juncture at the lead up to the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) conference in Seville. This signals India’s track record towards basic infrastructure, health, education, and digital access even in a global SDG slowdown.
Background to the SDG Index
• The SDGs were launched in 2015. The SDGs have 17 goals to end poverty, protect the environment and ensure prosperity by 2030.
• The SDG Index have subsequently ranked countries with respect to their progress towards the goals.
India’s 2025 rank
• India Rank 99 (a major improvement from last years)
• Score 67.0
• This represents a major leap in India’s international sustainability credibility.
Ranking of neighbouring countries
• China 49
• Bhutan 74
• Nepal 85
• Sri Lanka 93
• Bangladesh 114
Challenges and observations:
• Structural inequality, climate change, and conflict are stymieing progress at national levels.
• East Asia and South Asia are the fastest growing regions in achieving their SDG’s.
• This highlights India’s strength in the ‘digital’ and ‘health’ infrastructure (SDG 3, SDG 7, and SDG 9).
