India Enters Top 100 in Global SDG Rankings for the First Time

India’s rank reflects growing sustainability focus

India Enters Top 100 in Global SDG Rankings for the First Time: In a remarkable achievement, India has entered the top 100 in the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index for the first time. With a score of 67 out of 100, India now holds the 99th position among 193 countries in the 2025 edition of the UN Sustainable Development Report. The report, led by economist Jeffrey Sachs and published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), reflects efforts made globally toward the 17 SDGs.

A journey since 2015

The SDG framework was adopted in 2015, aiming to address poverty, health, education, environment, and justice by 2030. Countries are scored on how far they’ve come in meeting these 17 goals. Over the years, India has struggled to break into the top tiers of this index, often ranking below countries with smaller economies. But 2025 marks a turning point.

India’s leap in sustainability score

From its previous lower rankings, India’s climb to the 99th spot is not just numerical. It reflects progress in digital infrastructure, public health systems, access to basic services, and renewable electricity expansion. Programmes like Ayushman Bharat, Digital India, and widespread LED adoption under UJALA have supported this momentum.

South Asia on the move

In the South Asian context, India’s performance stands out. Nepal ranks 85th, Sri Lanka 93rd, and Bangladesh 114th, while Bhutan stays ahead at 74th. China, a regional giant, is far ahead at 49th, but India is closing the gap. The region overall has shown consistent growth, especially in areas like clean energy and education.

What’s working and what’s not

India’s strong performance in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) played a major role in the improved ranking. However, global reports still highlight growing challenges like press freedom issues, obesity, and biodiversity loss under other SDG indicators.

Global outlook remains uncertain

Globally, progress is sluggish. Only 17% of SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030. Finland, Sweden, and Denmark hold the top three spots in the index. Structural problems like climate change, armed conflicts, and growing inequalities continue to delay the global SDG goals. Yet, countries like India are examples of gradual improvement through consistent reforms.

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India Enters Top 100 in Global SDG Rankings for the First Time: