Sustainable Development Goals in India: Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions

India has integrated the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its national development agenda since 2015. NITI Aayog monitors the progress through the SDG India Index, while the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) uses the National Indicator Framework (NIF). According to the Sustainable Development Report 2025, India’s SDG score is 65.0, ranking 143 out of 193 countries. Progress is visible in areas like health, energy access, and digital connectivity, but major challenges remain in gender equality, the environment, and institutional strength. The SDG India Index 2023–24 shows wide differences among states, which highlights the need for localised strategies. Labour Force Surveys indicate improvement in female participation, but the quality of employment remains a concern. This paper analyses India’s progress, the main challenges, and future directions towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.