India’s Performance Improved on 85 SDG Parameters: UNESCAP

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) released a new report on Thursday showing that India’s performance has improved on 85 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), whereas progress has stagnated on 27 and worsened on 36.

As a part of the Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report, data released by UNESCAP showed that the country still had quite a few indicators where data availability was an issue in the Showcasing Transformative Actions 2024 report.

The report emphasised overall slow progress in achieving the 17 SDGs in Asia and the Pacific, noting an increase from 4.4% in 2017 to 17.0% in 2023. Positive strides were acknowledged in eliminating poverty (Goal 1) and advancing sustainable industry, innovation, and infrastructure (Goal 9).

The report also highlighted challenges faced by women in accessing education and employment opportunities across the region. Despite progress in school enrolment rates, issues persist, exacerbated by the setbacks caused by COVID-19. In India, the All India Survey on Higher Education for 2021–22 revealed a reduction in female enrolment in higher education post-pandemic. The periodic labour force survey indicated high female unemployment, with India’s overall female labour force participation lower than that of China, Vietnam, and Indonesia.