Macroeconomics / Sustainable development and inclusive growth
Module 3: NITI Aayog SDG India Index – State Rankings & Performance
NITI Aayog and the SDG scoreboards, then the ideas under them: limits, the Kuznets curve, the circular economy, and human capital.
TopicPart 1 of 4
Subtopic 3.1: National Trajectory & Top Performing States
A national score can rise while the last state is still far from the first.
Starting point
The SDG India Index is NITI Aayog’s composite of how states and Union territories stand on the goals. The notes track the national score from 57 in 2018 to 66 in 2020-21 and 71 in 2023-24. Direction matters: the composite improved. It is not a claim that every goal is achieved. Kerala ranked first in the 2019 and 2020-21 editions. In the 2023-24 index the notes put Kerala and Uttarakhand jointly first, each with 79. Bihar is the low end, with a composite of 57 in 2023-24 in the same notes.
A question that says “which state topped” and offers Kerala will key Kerala, including the 70th item worded around the 2023 index. A question that allows more than one state, and names Kerala and Uttarakhand, keys both for 2023-24. Read whether the stem is singular.
Remember the national path: 57, then 66, then 71.
Kerala first in 2019 and in 2020-21.
2023-24: Kerala and Uttarakhand jointly, score 79, when the question allows the pair.
Bihar at the bottom of that edition’s notes, score 57.
Do not import the global SDSN rank into a question about states.
Worked example. If the options are single states and the key is Kerala, marking both Kerala and Uttarakhand is impossible because the form is single-choice. If the statements say “1 and 2” and the statements are Kerala and Uttarakhand, that is the Uttarakhand PCS key for the highest score. The same edition can support both answers because one question asks for a top state and the other asks which of the named states share the highest score.
Memory hook. National score 57 → 66 → 71. Kerala on top. In 2023-24, Kerala and Uttarakhand share 79. Bihar 57 at the low end.
Further explanation
A composite index hides goal-level conflict. A state can lead on health and lag on environment. NITI’s dashboards are meant to show that, which is why a answer should not treat rank 1 as success on all seventeen goals. The scores are also sensitive to indicator choice and to data gaps, especially in smaller states.
The joint Kerala–Uttarakhand lead is an edition-specific result. Later indexes can break the tie. The bank’s fact is the 2023-24 tie at 79.
Figure
National SDG India Index scores in the notes
201857
2020-2166
2023-2471
Scores as given in the source notes for 2018, 2020-21 and 2023-24. Not a fresh NITI release read for this issue.
Concept
Original notes
Subtopic 3.1: National Trajectory & Top Performing States
The SDG India Index, designed and published by NITI Aayog, tracks the performance of all 28 States and 8 Union Territories across standardized national indicators. India's overall composite score has steadily improved over successive editions:
2018 Baseline: India's composite score was 57.
2019 Index:Kerala topped the ranking with a score of 70, followed by Himachal Pradesh (69).
2020-21 Index: India's national score rose to 66. Kerala retained 1st position with a score of 75, followed by Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (74 each).
2023-24 Index (July 2024): India's composite score advanced to 71. Kerala and Uttarakhand jointly topped the nation as the best-performing states with an identical highest score of 79. Tamil Nadu secured 2nd place (78), while Goa and Himachal Pradesh tied for 3rd (77 each). Bihar recorded the lowest score (57).
Important points
India's overall score improved from 57 (2018) to 66 (2020-21) and reached 71 (2023-24).
Kerala ranked 1st in the 2019 and 2020-21 editions.
In the 2023-24 Index, Kerala and Uttarakhand shared the top rank with a score of 79 each.
Bihar consistently recorded the lowest composite score (57 in 2023-24).
Topic
Questions
MCQs
Choose one option, then the next question.
Original question
Question 5: Which Indian State topped the NITI Aayog's SDG India Index 2023? [70th B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2024]
In the SDG India Index 2023-24 released in July 2024, Kerala and Uttarakhand emerged as top performers with a score of 79 each.
Original question
Question 8: According to 'Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) India Index, 2019' recently released by NITI Aayog, which State holds the first position? [U.P. B.E.O. (Pre) 2019]
Kerala secured the first position in the 2019 Index with a score of 70, followed by Himachal Pradesh with 69.
Original question
Question 11: According to NITI Aayog's SDG India Index 2023-24, which State/States has the highest SDG index score? 1. Kerala | 2. Uttarakhand | 3. Goa | 4. Tamil Nadu [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2025]
Kerala and Uttarakhand jointly achieved the highest composite score of 79 each, followed by Tamil Nadu at 78.
Question 1 of 3
No questions for this part. Open the next part.
No questions for this part. Open the next part.
No questions for this part. Open the next part.
🎉 You Have Completed This Module!
All subtopics and questions for this module are on this page. Continue to the next module.