Sustainable Development
The United Nations General Assembly established the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” in 2015, which includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated goals. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared to the press delegates that 193 countries have agreed to adopt the required sustainable development goals (SDGs). “This agreement marks a significant milestone in setting our world on an inclusive and sustainable course,” said Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). We have a chance to satisfy citizens’ hopes for peace, prosperity, and well-being, as well as to preserve our planet if we all work together.”
Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and the difficulties that come with them demanded the creation of goals that would aid in global sustainable development while protecting the environment and preserving human well-being. By 2030, these SDGs will have depicted a sustainable plan of action to balance the three pillars of sustainable development: “economic, social, and environmental.” The Sustainable Development Goals, often known as the Global Goals, aim to eradicate poverty worldwide, protect the environment, and preserve the peace and prosperity of humanity.
India’s commitment to the Sustainable development goals is seen in its alignment with the national development strategy, as demonstrated by the Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas mantra (Collective Efforts for Inclusive Growth). The country has built a viable Sustainable development Goals localization strategy centred on adoption, implementation, and monitoring at the State and district levels, based on data from the Sustainable development Goals India Index, which assesses progress at the subnational level.
Sustainable development goals
UN SDGs, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, also recognized as the Global Goals, raised by the United Nations in 2015 to save the planet, end poverty, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace.
The Division for Sustainable Development Goals (Un SDG) in the United Nations supports the SDGs and their associated thematic issues, including water, oceans, climate, transport, science and technology, energy, urbanization, and the Global Sustainable Development Report.
Though the goals are vast and interdependent, the SDGs were established to be more “actionable” by an UN SDGs Resolution adopted by the General Assembly two years later. The SDGs identify where we have to create a sustainable world and outline new opportunities for companies worldwide.
The following storey describes India’s progress toward the SDGs in further detail.
Sashakt Bharat – Sabal Bharat (Empowered and Resilient India)
India has successfully pulled more than 271 million people out of multidimensional poverty through economic progress and development. Reduced inequalities have resulted from improved access to nutrition, child health, education, sanitation, drinking water, power, and housing, particularly among those in disadvantaged situations.
Swachh Bharat – Swasth Bharat (Clean and Healthy India)
India achieved 100 per cent rural sanitation and substantial reductions in stunting and child and maternal mortality rates thanks to a nationwide initiative sparked by the Clean India Campaign and the National Nutrition Mission. Ayushmaan Bharat, the world’s largest health insurance programme, has institutionalized universal health coverage by providing an annual cover of USD 7,000 to 100 million families, covering almost 500 million people.
India is leading the charge for global cooperation to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The nation has provided medical aid to several countries and has launched the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund with a USD 10 million initial commitment. India’s domestic reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic includes a USD 22.5 billion economic stimulus package, full health coverage for front-line employees, and direct financial transfers to the poorest citizens.
Samagra Bharat – Saksham Bharat (Inclusive and Entrepreneurial India)
Universalizing access to nutrition, health, education, and social protection and promoting entrepreneurship and employment skills are all ways to promote social inclusion. The Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity – near-universal access to bank accounts aided by the Jan Dhan Yojana (National Financial Inclusion Scheme); Aadhaar card (National unique identity number) for over 90% of the population; and widespread access to mobile phones – has propelled new avenues of credit, insurance, and Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) to the poor, incl.
Satat Bharat – Sanatan Bharat (Sustainable India)
Clean, efficient energy systems, disaster-resistant infrastructure, and planned eco-restoration are all part of India’s climate action plans. India has electrified 100% of its villages, reduced 38 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually through energy-efficient appliances, provided clean cooking fuel to 80 million poor households, and set a target to instal 450GW of renewable energy and restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, all while adhering to its nationally determined contributions. India is the world’s third-largest producer of renewable energy, fourth-largest producer of wind energy, and fifth-largest producer of solar energy. India established the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the International Solar Alliance to harness global alliances for climate change and catastrophe resilience.
Sampanna Bharat- Samriddh Bharat (Prosperous and Vibrant India)
India is one of the fastest-growing emerging market economies with a young population and a thriving innovation and business ecosystem. With a GDP of USD 2.72 trillion in 2018-19, India aims to expand to a USD 5 trillion economy by 2025 and pursue an equitable and sustainable economic path by expanding manufacturing, creating infrastructure, spurring investments, supporting technological innovation, and encouraging entrepreneurship.
The Indian government has initiated various ambitious programmes to achieve the SDG agenda, some of which are featured here. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the world’s most extensive financial inclusion programme, is an excellent example of a cross-cutting project. The government has disbursed a total of INR 1.62 trillion (USD 25 billion) to 329 million beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfers using PMJDY, Aadhaar (biometric identity system), and mobile telephony. 1 This has helped to improve the efficiency of government programmes tremendously.
Furthermore, through cooperative and competitive federalism, particular efforts have been undertaken to revitalize the country’s federal governing framework. State governments are playing an increasingly important role in moving the national development agenda forward. Three sub-groups of Chief Ministers of States offered recommendations on several topics, including the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Movement) and skill development, which helped shape essential policy decisions at the national level.
India’s bold Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which were reported to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Conference of the Parties (COP), are an essential aspect of the country’s SDG plan. These include lowering GDP’s emission intensity, utilizing non-fossil fuel energy sources, and establishing extra carbon sinks.
The National Institution for Transforming India has been tasked with overseeing the implementation of the SDGs (NITI Aayog)