Mumbai: Uttarakhand, along with Kerala, has emerged as the top-performing state in India on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), scoring 79 each, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s Handbook of Statistics on States. This marks the fourth consecutive time that these two states have led the national SDG rankings.
They are followed closely by Tamil Nadu, which secured the second position with a score of 78, while Goa, Chandigarh, and Himachal Pradesh jointly occupied the third spot with a score of 77.
National Average Improves, But Remains Below Top States
Despite steady improvement over the years, the national average SDG score stands at 71, significantly lower than the leading states. RBI data shows a gradual rise in the national average—from 57 in 2018, to 60 in 2019, and 66 in 2020—reflecting incremental progress across the country.
However, the gap between top-performing and lagging states continues to be substantial.
Consistent Improvement in Uttarakhand and Kerala
The study highlights a steady upward trajectory for both Uttarakhand and Kerala over the years:
- Kerala: 69 (2018), 70 (2019), 75 (2020), 79 (2023)
- Uttarakhand: 60 (2018), 64 (2019), 72 (2020), 79 (2023)
- Tamil Nadu: 66 (2018), 67 (2019), 74 (2020), 78 (2023)
These improvements indicate sustained efforts by these states in areas such as health, education, poverty reduction, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability.
Bihar at the Bottom, Other Major States Show Mixed Performance
At the other end of the spectrum, Bihar remains the lowest-ranked state with an SDG score of 57, despite gradual improvement from 48 in 2018, 50 in 2019, and 52 in 2020.
Several key states have shown uneven progress:
- Delhi: 62, 61, 68, 70
- Gujarat: 64, 64, 69, 74
- Maharashtra: 64, 64, 70, 73
- Uttar Pradesh: 42, 55, 60, 67
- West Bengal: 56, 60, 62, 70
While some states have made notable gains, their scores still trail behind the national leaders.
RBI Handbook: Key Reference for State-Level Economic Monitoring
This is the 10th edition of the RBI’s Handbook of Statistics on States, published annually since 2016. The handbook compiles updated data across multiple socio-economic indicators, including SDGs, and serves as a key reference for policymakers and researchers.
The publication has been prepared by the Regional Economy Monitoring Division of the Department of Economic and Policy Research, under the overall supervision of Mallavarapu Ramaiah, with contributions from Monika Sethi, Pratibha Kedia, Shivam, Sonal Yadav, and Arunraj Essar.
Sustainable Development Still a Work in Progress
While the RBI data underscores encouraging progress at the national level, it also highlights persistent regional disparities. Experts note that sustained policy focus and targeted interventions will be essential to bring lower-performing states closer to national and global SDG benchmarks.
