India has made notable progress across a wide range of social, economic and environmental indicators over the past decade, according to the latest Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Progress Report released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
Released on the occasion of the 20th Statistics Day, the report presents a detailed assessment of India’s progress under the National Indicator Framework (NIF), the country’s official mechanism for monitoring implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations.
The report highlights major improvements in social protection coverage, maternal health, employment generation, gender equality, renewable energy deployment, biodiversity conservation and digital inclusion, reflecting the impact of policy interventions and welfare programmes undertaken over the years.
Four Key Publications Released
To mark Statistics Day, MoSPI released four major SDG-related publications:
Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework Progress Report, 2026
Data Snapshot on Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework Progress Report, 2026
Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework, 2026 along with metadata
Transforming Lives: India’s Achievements under the People Dimension of the SDGs
These publications collectively provide a detailed picture of India’s progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The National Indicator Framework has been developed by MoSPI in consultation with various Central ministries, NITI Aayog, United Nations agencies and other stakeholders. It serves as the primary tool for tracking progress across all SDGs at the national level.
The 2026 version of the framework contains 277 indicators covering social development, economic growth, environmental sustainability and governance.
Social Protection Coverage Triples In A Decade
One of the most significant achievements highlighted in the report is the dramatic expansion of social protection coverage.
According to MoSPI, the proportion of India’s population covered under social protection systems increased from just 22 per cent in 2016 to 65.3 per cent in 2026.
This represents nearly a threefold increase within a decade.
Social protection includes various welfare programmes and safety nets aimed at protecting vulnerable populations against economic shocks, poverty, unemployment, health emergencies and other risks.
The expansion reflects the growing reach of government welfare schemes, direct benefit transfers, insurance programmes, pension systems and targeted support initiatives aimed at ensuring social security for citizens.
The increase is particularly significant because SDG Goal 1 focuses on ending poverty and strengthening social protection systems for all sections of society.
Major Gains in Maternal Health
The report also records substantial progress in maternal health outcomes.
India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declined from 122 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births during 2015-17 to 87 during 2022-24.
The reduction reflects continued improvements in institutional deliveries, maternal healthcare services, access to skilled birth attendants and expansion of healthcare infrastructure across the country.
Reducing maternal mortality remains a key target under SDG 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.
The decline demonstrates India’s steady progress in improving healthcare access and maternal care services, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
Improvement in Gender Indicators
The report highlights encouraging progress on several gender-related indicators.
Sex Ratio At Birth Improves
India’s Sex Ratio at Birth improved from 896 females per 1,000 male live births during 2015–17 to 918 females per 1,000 male live births during 2022–24.
The improvement indicates gradual progress in addressing gender imbalance at birth and promoting greater acceptance of the girl child.
More Women In Professional Workforce
The participation of women in professional and technical occupations has also improved.
The ratio of female to male professionals and technical workers increased from 48.7 per cent in 2023–24 to 51.3 per cent in 2025.
The increase suggests growing representation of women in skilled occupations, technical professions and knowledge-based sectors of the economy.
These indicators contribute directly to SDG 5, which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls.
Unemployment Rate Drops To 3.1%
The report records significant progress in employment generation.
India’s unemployment rate declined sharply from 6.1 per cent in 2017-18 to 3.1 per cent in 2025.
The decline points towards expanding employment opportunities and increasing labour market participation during the period.
Employment generation remains central to SDG 8, which promotes sustained economic growth, productive employment and decent work for all.
The report suggests that economic expansion, infrastructure development, manufacturing growth, services sector expansion and entrepreneurship initiatives have contributed to improvements in labour market indicators.
Renewable Energy Capacity Sees Threefold Expansion
Environmental sustainability emerges as another major area of progress in the report.
India’s installed renewable energy generating capacity increased significantly over the last decade.
According to the report:
2014–15: 64.04 watts per capita
2025–26: 193.36 watts per capita
This represents a threefold increase in renewable energy capacity per person.
The expansion reflects India’s growing investments in solar energy, wind power, hydroelectric projects and other clean energy sources.
The progress aligns with SDG 7, which focuses on affordable and clean energy, as well as India’s broader climate commitments.
The rapid increase also highlights the country’s efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and transition towards a cleaner energy mix.
Sharp Rise in Waste Recycling Infrastructure
The report highlights major improvements in waste management infrastructure.
The number of waste recycling plants increased from 829 in 2019–20 to 3,236 in 2025–26.
This nearly fourfold increase indicates growing investment in waste processing, recycling and circular economy initiatives.
Improved waste management contributes to environmental sustainability, reduces landfill burden and supports responsible consumption and production patterns under SDG 12.
Biodiversity Conservation Efforts Show Results
India’s biodiversity conservation efforts have also expanded considerably.
The number of conserved plant genetic resources increased from:
4.32 lakh in 2014–15
4.92 lakh in 2025–26
Animal Genetic Resources
Animal genetic resources recorded an even sharper increase:
1.40 lakh in 2014–15
3.62 lakh in 2025–26
Fish Genetic Resources
Fish genetic resources more than doubled:
47 in 2014–15
105 in 2025–26
These improvements reflect efforts to preserve biodiversity, strengthen conservation programmes and protect genetic resources critical for food security and ecological sustainability.
The indicators are aligned with SDG 15, which focuses on protecting terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.
Ramsar Wetlands Coverage More Than Doubles
India also recorded substantial gains in wetland conservation.
The area covered by Ramsar-designated wetlands as a proportion of the country’s total wetland area increased from 4.15 per cent in 2016 to 8.66 per cent in 2026.
Ramsar sites are wetlands recognised under the international Ramsar Convention for their ecological significance.
The increase indicates enhanced international recognition and stronger protection of India’s wetland ecosystems.
Wetlands play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, groundwater recharge, flood management and climate resilience.
The growth in Ramsar coverage reflects increasing attention to environmental conservation and ecosystem protection.
Digital India Push Drives Internet Connectivity
One of the most dramatic improvements recorded in the report relates to digital connectivity.
The total number of internet subscriptions in India rose from 302.36 million in 2015 to 969.10 million in 2025.
The increase reflects the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure, mobile connectivity and internet access across urban and rural areas.
The growth has supported digital governance, online education, digital payments, e-commerce, telemedicine and access to government services.
Improved digital connectivity also contributes to reducing information gaps and enabling greater social and economic participation.
The expansion aligns with multiple SDGs by facilitating access to education, healthcare, financial services and economic opportunities.
Focus On People-Centric Development
Alongside the SDG Progress Report, MoSPI released a thematic bulletin titled “Transforming Lives: India’s Achievements under the People Dimension of the SDGs.”
The publication focuses on progress under SDGs 1 to 5, which cover:
No Poverty
Zero Hunger
Good Health and Well-being
Quality Education
Gender Equality
The bulletin examines how various government initiatives and welfare programmes have contributed to improving human development outcomes across the country.
It also highlights policy interventions aimed at ensuring inclusive growth and improving the quality of life for citizens.
National Indicator Framework: Measuring India’s Development Journey
The National Indicator Framework remains the backbone of India’s SDG monitoring architecture.
Developed through consultations with ministries, NITI Aayog, UN agencies and domain experts, the framework provides a structured system for measuring progress across all 17 SDGs.
The 2026 edition includes 277 indicators covering diverse sectors such as poverty alleviation, healthcare, education, employment, gender equality, clean energy, environmental conservation, infrastructure, governance and partnerships.
By providing data-driven evidence, the framework supports policymaking, programme implementation and monitoring of development outcomes.
A Decade Of Measurable Progress
The latest SDG Progress Report paints a picture of broad-based development across multiple sectors.
From the expansion of social protection coverage and improvements in maternal health to falling unemployment, rising renewable energy capacity, stronger biodiversity conservation and near-universal digital connectivity, the report indicates significant progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
While challenges remain and several targets still require accelerated efforts before the 2030 deadline, the findings suggest that India has made measurable gains across social, economic and environmental dimensions of development.
As the country enters the final stretch of the SDG implementation period, the National Indicator Framework will continue to serve as a critical tool for tracking progress and guiding policy decisions aimed at achieving sustainable and inclusive growth.
