Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) addresses Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) monitoring. It details the development and use of national and state indicator frameworks, digital dashboards like the SDG India Index, and efforts to improve data accuracy and interoperability. The document references the SDG India Index Report 2023-24, which shows an improvement in the country's overall score from 66 in 2020-21 to 71 in 2023-24.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **SDG Implementation and Monitoring:**
* India is committed to implementing SDGs using nationally defined indicators, reflecting the country's priorities.
* MoSPI developed the National Indicator Framework (NIF) for SDGs in consultation with various stakeholders to facilitate national-level monitoring.
* NITI Aayog aligned SDGs with centrally sponsored schemes across Central Ministries and Departments.
* The Government of India has launched nationwide welfare and development programs aligned with the SDGs.
* **Sub-National Monitoring and Support:**
* States/UTs are responsible for SDG implementation and review at state, district, and local levels.
* States are encouraged to develop State Indicator Frameworks (SIFs) based on their priorities and resources.
* MoSPI provides technical assistance to States/UTs in formulating and refining SDG monitoring frameworks.
* MoSPI issued guidelines to States/UTs in 2019 for crafting State/UT level monitoring frameworks, updated in March 2022.
* **Digital Dashboards and Progress Tracking:**
* The SDG India Index Dashboard, released by NITI Aayog, monitors and benchmarks States/UTs progress on SDGs.
* The fourth edition of the SDG India Index was released in 2023, showing improvement in the country’s overall score.
* State/UT-wise progress on SDGs is publicly accessible.
* **Data Improvement and Standardization:**
* MoSPI circulated a National Meta Data Structure (NMDS) to uniformly represent data, clarify data sources, and enhance data discoverability.
* MoSPI circulated the Statistical Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) to improve the National Statistical System by establishing quality parameters and practices.
* SQAF provides a self-assessment kit for evaluating the quality of statistical products and processes.
Impact Analysis:
* **Central Ministries and Departments:**
* Impact: Required to align centrally sponsored schemes with SDGs, as directed by NITI Aayog.
* Action Required: Implement and monitor schemes in accordance with SDG targets.
* **State Governments/Union Territories:**
* Impact: Responsible for SDG implementation and monitoring at the state, district, and local levels.
* Action Required: Develop and implement State Indicator Frameworks (SIFs), track progress, and utilize data for targeted interventions.
* **Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI):**
* Impact: Responsible for developing and maintaining national indicator frameworks and providing technical assistance.
* Action Required: Continue to refine NIF, provide support to States/UTs, and promote data quality and interoperability.
* **NITI Aayog:**
* Impact: Monitors and benchmarks progress of States/UTs through the SDG India Index.
* Action Required: Continue to publish and update the SDG India Index and provide insights for policy interventions.
Key Entities Referenced
Sustainable Development Goals: A set of global goals adopted by the United Nations to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation: The Indian government ministry responsible for statistics and program implementation.
NITI Aayog: The National Institution for Transforming India, a policy think tank of the Government of India.
National Indicator Framework: A framework developed by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the national level in India.
SDG India Index: An index released by NITI Aayog to monitor the performance of States and Union Territories in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas: An overarching commitment of the Government of India, meaning "Together with all, Development for all, Trust of all, Effort of all"
National Meta Data Structure: A structure designed by MoSPI to ensure data and information are uniformly represented, providing clarity on data sources and collection methods.
Statistical Quality Assessment Framework: A framework circulated by MoSPI to improve the National Statistical System by laying down quality parameters for statistical processes and products.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1628
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
1628.SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:
Dr. MANNA LAL RAWAT:
SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL:
Ms. S JOTHIMANI:
SHRI CHINTAMANI MAHARAJ
Smt. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:
SHRI KALI CHARAN SINGH:
Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to improve real-
time data availability for monitoring Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) at the district/block level and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has come across specific instances
where the data provided by the Government has helped in targeted
interventions or resource allocation for backward regions;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the major platforms such as SDG India Index or other
digital dashboards being used to track progress at the national and
State level and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Union Government has taken steps to improve data
accuracy, interoperability and integration across Ministries and State
for better planning and monitoring and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
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)
(a), (b) & (c): India has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing
the SDGs by utilizing nationally defined indicators that reflect thecountry’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. 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."
(d): SDG India Index & Dashboard released by NITI Aayog, monitors
the performance of States/Union Territories (UTs), benchmarking
them based on their overall achievements across various goals. The
Index underscores the varying levels of progress and challenges
among States and Union Territories in achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals. The fourth edition of SDG India Index was
released in 2023. According to the SDG India Index Report 2023-24
released by NITI Aayog, the country's overall score has improvedfrom 66 in 2020-21 to 71 in 2023-24. The State/UT-wise progress on
SDGs are in public domain and can be accessed at
https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-07/SDG_India_Index_2023-
24.pdf.
(e): MoSPI has circulated a National Meta Data Structure (NMDS)
designed with the objective that data and information are uniformly
represented, provide clarity on the data sources, collection methods
and enhance discoverability of datasets. It is to bring in improved
understanding of various data sets in public domain such as census,
surveys, administrative and those from other sources.
Also, MoSPI has circulated the Statistical Quality Assessment
Framework (SQAF) which aims to bring in improvement in the
National Statistical System by laying down quality parameters and
corresponding good practices for statistical processes and products.
The framework provides a self-assessment kit for assessing the
quality of statistical products and processes by diagnosing the areas
of its strength and weaknesses.
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