Why in NEWS
NITI Aayog has presented India’s 3rd Voluntary National Review (VNR) Report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the UN’s High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) under the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The report showcases India’s Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach to achieving the SDGs. India earlier presented VNRs in 2017 and 2020.
Key Terms / Concepts
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Voluntary National Review (VNR) | A country-led voluntary process to present progress on SDG implementation, encouraging experience-sharing and best practices. |
| SDGs | 17 global goals set by the UN in 2015 to achieve sustainable development by 2030. |
| NITI Aayog | India’s policy think tank and nodal authority for SDG implementation and VNR preparation. |
| HLPF | UN’s main platform for sustainable development review, meeting annually under ECOSOC and every four years under the General Assembly. |
Key Highlights of India’s 3rd VNR
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Implementation Strategy | Use of SDG India Index, NER District SDG Index, and Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) to track progress and guide policies. Localisation of SDGs through sub-national and district-level action plans. |
| SDG 1 – No Poverty | 248 million people moved out of multidimensional poverty between 2013-14 and 2022-23. |
| SDG 2 – Zero Hunger | PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana supporting 81.35 crore beneficiaries, extended for 5 years from 2024. |
| SDG 3 – Good Health & Well-being | POSHAN Abhiyaan and Ayushman Bharat improved nutrition and healthcare access; out-of-pocket health expenditure fell from 62.6% (2014-15) to 39.4% (2020-21). |
| SDG 7 – Clean Energy Transition | National Green Hydrogen Mission, PM-KUSUM, and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana driving renewable energy adoption. |
| Digital Financial Inclusion | JAM-based Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) boosting transparency; India accounts for 48.5% of global real-time payment volume in FY 2025 with a 41.7% UPI growth. |
About UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Establishment | Formally established in July 2013. |
| Function | Guides UN’s sustainable development policy, adopts negotiated declarations, and reviews the 2030 Agenda & SDGs. |
| Reporting | Countries present VNRs voluntarily to ensure transparency, accountability, and knowledge sharing. |
In a nutshell
India’s 3rd VNR showcases major gains in poverty reduction, hunger eradication, healthcare access, clean energy adoption, and digital financial inclusion, while emphasising localisation of SDGs for equitable growth.
Prelims Practice Questions
- Which of the following bodies is responsible for preparing India’s Voluntary National Review report on SDGs?
A. Ministry of External Affairs
B. Ministry of Finance
C. NITI Aayog
D. UNDP India - Which year was the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) formally established?
A. 2012
B. 2013
C. 2015
D. 2017 - Which of the following is NOT used by India to monitor SDG progress?
A. SDG India Index
B. North Eastern Region District SDG Index
C. Global Competitiveness Index
D. Multi-dimensional Poverty Index
Prelims Answers & Explanations
| Qn | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | NITI Aayog is the nodal agency for SDG monitoring and VNR preparation. |
| 2 | B | HLPF was formally established in July 2013. |
| 3 | C | Global Competitiveness Index is not an SDG monitoring tool; it is released by the World Economic Forum. |
