Welcome to the United Nations
India – Main Message
Voluntary National Review, 2025
India, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion and more young people than any other country, plays a decisive role in advancing Agenda 2030. The guiding principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas' (Together with All, Development for All, Trust of All, and Efforts of All) underscores India's commitment to human-centric sustainable development that leaves no one behind.
This 2025 VNR highlights the progress and resilience of the country since the 2020 VNR, a period marked by multiple crises globally, including Covid-19 pandemic. Leveraging technology, India effectively managed vaccinations through platforms like CoWIN, administering over 2.2 billion doses. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (Prime Minister's Food Security Scheme for the Poor) ensured food security for 800 million people. Economic growth rebounded strongly, making India the fastest growing major economy. This VNR has been prepared through participatory discussions with all stakeholders including vulnerable sections of society.
Progress on Agenda 2030
While global progress towards Agenda 2030 lags, India is making steady gains. India’s nationally calculated SDG Index score rose from 60/100 in 2019-20 to 71/100 in 2023-24. The fourth SDG India Index evaluated and ranked all States and Districts on 113 indicators showing advancements in goals on eliminating poverty, providing decent work, economic growth and climate action.
Concerted efforts have lifted 135 million people out of multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21. Social protection coverage has more than doubled since 2015 and India is on track to achieve health targets for maternal, child, and infant mortality before 2030.
Despite this progress, opportunities for improvement remain in areas like harnessing high-quality data, empowering youth, enhancing job opportunities, and increasing women's workforce participation. The government is creating strategies through partnership with civil society and private sector for effective last-mile delivery.
Localisation of SDGs
India’s model of SDG localisation is a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach rooted in government’s sustained commitment to cooperative and competitive federalism. Sub-national governments, in collaboration with national government, have established institutional frameworks, undertaken capacity-building, localised SDGs at district and local levels, and prepared vision documents aligning their development strategies with Agenda 2030. Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks Programmes target underdeveloped regions through convergence of schemes and saturation of essential government services thereby promoting inclusive development.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
DPI has boosted growth and transformed public service delivery. Digital India, Aadhaar (digital identity), and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) have empowered India's diverse population, with UPI now accounting for 49% of global real-time payments. India’s Direct Benefit Transfer initiative enables real-time, transparent fund transfers across more than 1,206 schemes, disbursing ₹2.23 trillion. Digital platforms like PM Gati Shakti are enabling integrated planning and coordinated execution of infrastructure connectivity projects. India is democratizing Artificial Intelligence to ensure equitable access and leveraging its potential for public good.
Global Leadership and Collaboration
India, as a Vishwa Mitra (Global Friend), is advancing Agenda 2030 through regional and global collaborations. Anchored in vision of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future', India's 2023 G20 Presidency generated an action-oriented New Delhi Leaders' Declaration that brought the SDGs to the centre stage.
India, inspired by its Mission LiFE, which emphasizes individual actions in combating climate change, has successfully advocated for a global resolution on sustainable lifestyles.
Vision for Future
India is a signatory to Pact of the Future to drive global acceleration of Agenda 2030, and strengthen sustainable development, digital cooperation, youth engagement, and global governance transformation.
The goal of Viksit Bharat@2047 - a developed society by its centenary year of independence aligns with India's commitment to achieve SDGs through innovation, technology leadership, and transformative governance, ultimately building an inclusive and thriving India for the world.
