The 2023–24 edition of the North Eastern Region District SDG Index has revealed a marked improvement in sustainable development metrics across the eight Northeastern states of India. Released by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region in collaboration with UNDP, the second edition of the index tracks district-level progress across 15 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
With enhanced district coverage, improved data systems and broader state involvement, the index reflects a more refined portrait of development efforts across the region. A total of 121 out of 131 districts have been assessed, up from 103 in the inaugural 2021–22 edition. The data framework now incorporates 84 indicators—41 sourced from central databases and 43 from state systems—signifying increased convergence and reporting accuracy.
The share of districts attaining ‘Front Runner’ status, characterised by strong performance across SDG indicators, has surged from 62% in the first edition to 85% in 2023–24. All districts in Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura have reached Front Runner status, with Hnahthial in Mizoram identified as the top-performing district overall. Nagaland and Tripura also exhibited balanced growth across multiple goals.
Officials attributed these gains to saturation strategies, effective localisation of schemes and flagship programmes including the Aspirational Districts Programme. The index serves not only as a ranking tool but also identifies gaps and disparities both within states and between them. Its utility spans peer learning, local planning and competitive federalism while strengthening district-level data architecture.
The Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to eliminate poverty, improve health, provide quality education, ensure clean water and jobs and foster equity by 2030. In India, NITI Aayog leads the national implementation, aligning SDGs with domestic schemes and coordinating across ministries. The United Nations team in India provides financial and technical support to ensure inclusive execution.
The latest NER District SDG Index affirms the momentum toward equitable, data-driven and locally contextualised development in the region, with states demonstrating significant strides in embedding sustainability into governance and grassroots delivery.
