India’s voluntary national review highlights the country’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to achieving the SDGs. Berry said that UNDP has been very supportive in establishing SDG coordination and acceleration centres in the states for deepening SDG localisation.
Suman K Bery, vice chairman of the NITI Aayog, last week, presented India’s third voluntary national review (VNR) report on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) at the ministerial segment of the high-level political forum (HLPF) on SDGs convened by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.
According to a PIB release on Monday, Bery observed that it was an important opportunity to share with the world the combination of economic growth, investment in infrastructure, efficient delivery of targeted schemes, and local commitment that had transformed the sustainable development goals into a national movement in less than a decade.
This VNR marks India’s third submission to the HLPF, reaffirming the country’s sustained commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda for SDGs.
Anchored in a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, the preparation of India’s VNR 2025 was steered by NITI Aayog through a structured and consultative process that drew on the participation of states, union territories, civil society, and development partners and private sector. Building on the approach adopted in previous VNRs, a clear national roadmap guided the process, ensuring broad-based engagement while remaining anchored in data and evidence. UNDP has been very supportive in establishing SDG coordination and acceleration centres in the states and union territories for deepening SDG localisation.
Decade of Decisive Policy Action
India’s VNR 2025 captures a decade of decisive policy action and transformative results across multiple dimensions of sustainable development:
Poverty Alleviation: Around 248 million individuals estimated to have escaped multidimensional poverty (MPI).
Food Security: The PM garib kalyan anna yojana has ensured nutritional support for millions.
Health and Nutrition: POSHAN Abhiyaan and Ayushman Bharat have expanded access to quality nutrition and healthcare.
Clean Energy: Programmes like the National Green Hydrogen Mission, PM-KUSUM, and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana are strengthening India’s transition to clean energy.
Innovation and Growth: India is now the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world.
Infrastructure and Industry: Schemes such as PM Gati Shakti, Make in India, and the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme are building next-generation infrastructure.
The report highlights India’s leadership in building Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) grounded in the Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile (JAM) trinity, which has become a global model for inclusive, transparent, and efficient service delivery.
With tools such as the SDG India Index, North-Eastern Region District SDG Index, and the National Multi-dimensional Poverty Index, India continues to strengthen its data-driven governance and localise SDG implementation. Initiatives like the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) ensure last-mile saturation of government services.
India’s VNR 2025 further highlights its growing contribution to South-South Cooperation, reflecting its role as a trusted development partner through capacity-building and institutional support to fellow developing countries.
Agenda 2030 is aligned with India’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 – a developed India by its 100th year of independence – underscoring an integrated development strategy grounded in inclusion, innovation, and institutional strength.
