**Policy Summary: Monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the District or Block Level in India**
The Government of India is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through nationally defined indicators that reflect the country's priorities. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has developed the National Indicator Framework (NIF) for SDGs to facilitate monitoring at the national level. NITI Aayog has aligned the SDGs with centrally sponsored schemes and supports States/UTs in developing District Indicator Frameworks (DIFs) to monitor progress at the district level. States/UTs are primarily responsible for implementing and reviewing SDG progress at the state, district, and local levels and are encouraged to develop their own State Indicator Frameworks (SIFs). MoSPI provides technical assistance to States and UTs in formulating and refining SDG monitoring frameworks at the subnational level, with guidelines issued in 2019 and updated in March 2022 ("Guidance on Monitoring Framework on SDGs at the Subnational Level"). This information was provided by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation: The Indian ministry responsible for the National Indicator Framework for SDGs and providing technical assistance to States and UTs.
Sustainable Development Goals: A set of global goals adopted by the United Nations, which India is committed to implementing.
National Indicator Framework: A framework developed by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the national level.
NITI Aayog: The nodal agency responsible for coordinating efforts on SDGs and providing support to States/UTs in developing District Indicator Framework (DIF).
State Indicator Frameworks: Frameworks that States/UTs are encouraged to develop to track their achievements in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, according to their specific developmental priorities.
District indicator Framework: Framework to monitor SDG progress at the District level.
Rajya Sabha: The upper house of the Parliament of India, where a question regarding the monitoring of SDGs was addressed.
Rao Inderjit Singh: Minister of State Independent Charge of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Minister of State Independent Charge of the Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Monitoring of SDGs at District or Block Level
Posted On: 18 AUG 2025 4:57PM by PIB Delhi
India has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the SDGs by utilizing nationally defined indicators that
reflect the country’s unique priorities and developmental needs. In this regard, Ministry of Statistics and
Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has developed the National Indicator Framework (NIF) for SDGs in
consultation with concerned Ministries/ Departments, UN Agencies and other stakeholders to facilitate
monitoring of the SDGs at national level. In pursuit of integrating the SDGs into national and sub-national
policies and programmes, NITI Aayog has aligned the SDGs with centrally sponsored schemes across various
Central Ministries and Departments. To further this vision, the Government of India has launched a series of
nationwide welfare and developmental programs, guided by its overarching commitment to “Sabka Saath,
Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas" in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals' motto of
"Leaving No One Behind."
States/UTs hold the primary responsibility for the follow-up and review of progress in implementing the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the state, district, and local government levels. To effectively track
their achievements, States are encouraged to develop their own State Indicator Frameworks (SIFs), as per
their specific developmental priorities, data needs, infrastructure, and resource availability. NITI Aayog, as
the nodal agency responsible for coordinating efforts on SDGs, provides support to States/UTs in developing
District indicator Framework (DIF) to monitor SDG progress at the District level. In recognition of this,
MoSPI has been actively extending technical assistance to States and UTs in the formulation, review, and
refinement of SDG monitoring frameworks at the sub-national level. In this endeavor, in 2019, the Ministry
formulated and circulated Guidelines to the States/UTs for crafting their State/UT level monitoring
framework. The guideline was subsequently updated in March 2022 as part of the report titled "Guidance on
Monitoring Framework on SDGs at the Sub-national Level."
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and
Programme Implementation, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Planning and Minister
of State in the Ministry of Culture Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
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Samrat/Allen
(Release ID: 2157530)