The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Monday released a series of publications on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to mark the 20th Statistics Day, highlighting India’s progress across social, economic and environmental indicators under the National Indicator Framework (NIF).
The publications include the 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, and a thematic bulletin titled ‘Transforming Lives: India’s Achievements under the People Dimension of the SDGs’.
Developed by MoSPI in consultation with central ministries, NITI Aayog, UN agencies and other stakeholders, the National Indicator Framework serves as the country’s official mechanism for monitoring progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The 2026 framework comprises 277 national SDG indicators, providing evidence for policy formulation and programme implementation.
According to the report, the proportion of the population covered by social protection systems increased from 22 per cent in 2016 to 65.3 per cent in 2026, while the Maternal Mortality Ratio declined from 122 per 100,000 live births during 2015–17 to 87 during 2022–24.
The report also points to improvements in gender-related indicators. The Sex Ratio at Birth improved from 896 females per 1,000 male live births during 2015–17 to 918 during 2022–24, while 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.
On the employment front, the unemployment rate declined from 6.1 per cent in 2017–18 to 3.1 per cent in 2025, according to the report.
The report highlights significant progress in environmental sustainability and renewable energy. Installed renewable energy generating capacity increased from 64.04 watts per capita in 2014–15 to 193.36 watts per capita in 2025–26, representing a threefold expansion. The number of waste recycling plants also increased from 829 in 2019–20 to 3,236 in 2025–26.
India also recorded gains in biodiversity conservation. Plant genetic resources conserved increased from 4.32 lakh in 2014–15 to 4.92 lakh in 2025–26, while animal genetic resources rose from 1.40 lakh to 3.62 lakh during the same period. Fish genetic resources more than doubled from 47 to 105.
The report further notes that the area of Ramsar sites 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, reflecting expanded international recognition and protection of wetlands.
Digital connectivity also witnessed substantial growth, with the total number of internet subscriptions rising from 302.36 million in 2015 to 969.10 million in 2025.
Alongside the progress report, MoSPI released the thematic bulletin ‘Transforming Lives: India’s Achievements under the People Dimension of the SDGs’, focusing on progress under SDGs 1 to 5, covering poverty, hunger, health, education and gender equality. The bulletin highlights major government initiatives and policy interventions aimed at improving human development while advancing the commitment to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
