SDG Index North East 2025: NITI Aayog released the 2nd SDG Index covering 121 districts. Hnahthial (Mizoram) topped the rankings. Know key data, historical context, and MCQs for UPSC and other exams.
NITI Aayog Releases 2nd SDG Index for North‑East Districts
Introduction to the NER‑SDG Index 2023–24
On July 7, 2025, NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North‑Eastern Region (DoNER) and supported by UNDP, unveiled the second edition of the North‑Eastern Region Sustainable Development Goals (NER‑SDG) Index 2023–24. This comprehensive index, covering 121 districts across the eight north‑eastern states, provides a granular assessment of progress on key sustainable development indicators
Scope and Methodology
Modeled on the national SDG India Index framework, the NER‑SDG Index evaluates district performance across social, economic, and environmental dimensions, using composite scores to categorize districts into Achiever, Front Runner, Performer, or Aspirant—providing a robust tool for evidence-based governance
Key Rankings and District Performance
Hnahthial (Mizoram) tops the region with a score of 81.43, followed by Champhai (79.86)Two districts each from Tripura—Gomati (78.79) and West Tripura (77.64)—feature in the top 10 listImpressively, all districts from Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura have reached Front Runner status
Regional Disparities
While 85% of districts across the north-east are in the Front Runner category, scores vary significantly—from a high of 81.43 to a low of 58.71 in Longding, Arunachal Pradesh Sikkim shows the least variation (within 5.5 points), indicating balanced progress; Tripura also exhibits stable performance
Implications for Governance
The NER‑SDG Index ministry highlights that this initiative strengthens cooperative federalism, enabling targeted interventions, data-driven resource allocation, and localisation of SDG implementation—crucial for the “Viksit Bharat @2047” vision
🔍 Why This News is Important
Enhancing Exam‐Relevant Knowledge
Understanding the NER‑SDG Index is vital for students preparing for government exams, especially under themes like inclusive growth, federalism, and India’s development agendas. It directly ties into reports and government initiatives often referenced in UPSC/PCS/Mains questions.
Insight into Policy Implementation
The index illustrates how multi‑level collaboration between NITI Aayog, DoNER, UNDP, and state governments strengthens policy tracking and accountability. It’s a practical example of federal‐centre synergy in action—a recurring topic in government exam analyses.
Framework for Analytical Answers
The report offers quantifiable data and regional comparisons (e.g. top and bottom states/districts), which are excellent for constructing data‑driven answers and case studies. The nuance between frontier and aspirant districts adds depth to essays on sustainable development.
🏛 Historical Context
First Edition Launch & Global SDG Context
The first NER‑SDG index was released in August 2021, marking a significant policy shift toward district‑level SDG monitoring This aligns with the global UN SDG initiative launched in 2015, aiming toward achieving goals by 2030.
Institutional Collaboration
This initiative reflects institutional collaboration across NITI Aayog (the government’s think‑tank), MoDoNER (development oversight in the north‑east), and UNDP (providing technical support)—underscoring the role of global partnerships in national development.
Evolution of Indicators
From the inaugural index to the 2023–24 edition, the region has seen a significant leap—with 85% districts in front-runner status, up from 62% in the first iteration, indicating effective localized implementation and policy uptake
📌 Key Takeaways from NER‑SDG Index
| Serial No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | 121 northeastern districts assessed on SDG performance for 2023–24. |
| 2 | 85% districts are in “Front Runner” category (score 65–99). |
| 3 | Top district: Hnahthial (Mizoram) with 81.43 composite score. |
| 4 | Lowest district: Longding (Arunachal Pradesh) with 58.71 score. |
| 5 | Complete Front Runner status: All districts in Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the NER-SDG Index?
The NER-SDG Index is a regional Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) performance tracking tool for the North-Eastern Region (NER) of India. It evaluates district-level progress on SDG indicators and is developed by NITI Aayog, Ministry of DoNER, with technical support from UNDP.
2. How many districts were covered in the 2nd NER-SDG Index?
The 2nd edition of the NER-SDG Index covered 121 districts across the eight northeastern states of India.
3. Which district secured the highest score in the latest SDG Index?
Hnahthial district in Mizoram topped the index with a score of 81.43.
4. What is the significance of this index for students appearing in competitive exams?
This index is important for aspirants preparing for UPSC, State PSCs, Banking, SSC, Railways, Defence, and other exams as it covers topics under sustainable development, governance, policy analysis, and Indian polity.
5. Which states have all their districts in the Front Runner category?
Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura have all districts falling under the Front Runner category.
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