Latest news with #MinistryofDevelopmentofNorthEasternRegion
Hans India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
New SDG index shows stronger progress in Northeast India, Front Runner districts rise to 85 pc
New Delhi: With better data systems, broader district coverage and stronger state involvement, the 2023-24 edition of the NER District SDG Index offers a more refined and reliable picture of the development journey of India's Northeastern Region. The 2023-24 index shows remarkable progress in several areas. All districts in Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura have now achieved 'Front Runner' status. Hnahthial in Mizoram emerged as the top-performing district. States like Nagaland and Tripura showed well-balanced and strong performance across various goals. Compared to the first edition, the proportion of districts in the Front Runner category has increased from 62 per cent in 2021-22 to 85 per cent in 2023-24. This improvement is the result of national flagship schemes, better localisation by states, and saturation efforts under initiatives like the Aspirational Districts Programme. Released on July 7 by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this is the second edition of the index, building on the first report from August 2021. This latest edition tracks how districts in the eight northeastern states are performing on 15 of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). It covers 121 out of 131 districts, an increase from 103 districts in the first edition. The data for this index has also improved, with 84 indicators being used -- 41 from central sources and 43 from state systems -- reflecting better coordination and reporting. The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations in 2015, aim to reduce poverty, improve healthcare and education, ensure clean water and jobs, and create a more just and equal world by 2030. In India, NITI Aayog leads the national effort, linking these global goals to government schemes and working closely with all ministries. The UN team in India supports the process by ensuring inclusiveness and strong financial backing. The index not only ranks districts but also highlights gaps, challenges and disparities -- both within states and between them. It aims to encourage competitive federalism, support local planning, promote peer learning, and improve data systems.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Jyotiraditya Scindia interview: ‘‘PM Modi believes Northeast can be country's fulcrum … It is growing at almost the twice national rate'
After handling the civil aviation and steel portfolios in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second term, Jyotiraditya Scindia took charge of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the Ministry of Communications after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. A year in, Scindia reflects on his tenure at DoNER, speaks of the investment push in the Northeast, and points out the challenges that remain. Excerpts: Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes the Northeast has tremendous potential to become the growth fulcrum of this country, despite being neglected for 65 years. There are historical and cultural underpinnings to show that the Northeast has always been the setu (bridge) between Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. That belief has been acted upon in the last 11 years (under PM Modi) and will now see fruition. There has been a lot of infusion of capital, and that has translated into huge social and physical infrastructure. We are talking about an investment of close to Rs 5 lakh crore over the last 11 years. The world is growing at over 2.4%, India is at 7% … And my eight states (in the NE) are growing at 11%-13%, almost twice the national growth rate. In contrast to the past, the region has witnessed the visits of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (ministers) multiple times. While the PM has visited the region 60 times, there have been more than 700 ministerial visits. So, there is a granular level of understanding of the requirements (in the region) and (the) articulation of that understanding into very detailed projects. We held the first NE investment summit for all the states together (in May). That has brought in a promised investment of Rs 4.18 lakh crore … It took 10 months and nine roadshows. This (promised investment) would roughly be about Rs 50-60 crore per state. This is besides the Rs 27,000 crore promised in the Advantage Assam Summit. There are tremendous capabilities (being built) …. Agartala-Mumbai flying time is the same as Agartala-Singapore, Guwahati-Chennai is the same as Guwahati-Bangkok. You will have to think of the NE as a launchpad to Southeast Asia. No disturbances … Manipur is a different case. Today, across the Northeast, you can go from one state to the other and travel freely by road, rail, or air. I think the (advisories against travelling) are more state-specific rather than a DONeR issue. I want to push for the (larger) NE region environment as opposed to a state-specific environment. Those questions have to be taken to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). My mandate is social, infrastructure, and economic development. It is about becoming a bridge between the Centre and the (NE) states. I will not stray from my mandate. For instance, Sikkim had a problem with a national highway and they required a new alignment. I went to (Nitin) Gadkari and got that new alignment approved. So, I am their (NE's) soldier. I have done a strategic review of the states, with every Chief Minister, assessing various social and infrastructure indicators and identifying areas of potential. Also, we have outlined a penetration of banking strategy to facilitate home-grown entrepreneurs and industries. I am now looking at a tourism circuit for each state,and will start pilots in two states in the coming months. One USP has been identified for every state: king chillies for Nagaland, Queen pineapple for Tripura, organic produce for Sikkim, agarwood from Assam and Tripura. An entire value chain will be built around that USP. All eight states have been asked to conduct a study on social and physical infrastructure in their border villages and tell us what they want to achieve as a priority. Some have indicated issues such as roads, some have asked for electrification.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Mizoram tops Northeast in SDG index 2023–24
Aizawl: Hnahthial district in south Mizoram has emerged as the highest-scoring district in the entire northeast region in the North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2023–24, released by NITI Aayog on Monday. With a composite score of 81.43, Hnahthial outperformed 120 other districts across the eight north-eastern states. Mizoram also saw all its districts placed in the 'Front Runner' category, indicating substantial progress towards achieving the SDGs. The second edition of the NER District SDG Index was jointly developed by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), with technical support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The index assesses district-level progress on sustainable development goals across social, economic, and environmental sectors. All districts in Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura achieved 'Front Runner' status, with none falling in the 'aspirant' or 'achiever' categories. Mizoram and Nagaland registered some of the highest individual district scores.
Business Standard
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goals Index shows a rise 85% of districts show increase in composite score
The second edition of the North Eastern Region (NER) District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index Report (2023-24) was released by NITI Aayog yesterday. The Index is developed by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER), with technical support from UNDP. The Index, which builds upon the momentum of the first edition released on 26 August 2021, measures the performance of districts across eight North Eastern States on the SDGs. The (2023-24) Index is a major milestone in improving monitoring at the regional level. The index reflects the commitment to address development challenges across social, economic, and environmental dimensions while ensuring that no one is left behind in the NER. The latest data shows that 85% of the districts show increase in composite score. All districts in Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura have achieved Front Runner status, with no districts falling in the Aspirant or Achiever categories. Mizoram has the highest-scoring district in the entire Northeast region (Hnahthial at 81.43) and Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest-scoring district in the entire region (Longding at 58.71). The composite scores for the 121 districts range from 58.71 in Longding, Arunachal Pradesh to 81.43 in Hnahthial, Mizoram. Sikkim has the narrowest range (5.5 points) in terms of the score of the highest and lowest district, showing the most consistent performance across its districts. Tripura has the distinction of having some of the highest-scoring districts with minimum intra-state variation (6.5 points). Mizoram and Nagaland have some of the highest-scoring districts but also exhibit variation (ranges of 13.72 and 15.07, respectively).
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Business Standard
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
85% districts in North East achieve Front Runner status in SDGs: NITI Aayog
The share of districts in the eight north-eastern states falling under the 'Front Runner' category for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) has increased to 85 per cent in 2023-24, up from 62 per cent in 2021-22, according to NITI Aayog. 'This signifies the impact of national flagship schemes, coupled with the localisation efforts of the states and the saturation of benefits through initiatives like the Aspirational Districts Programme,' noted NITI Aayog in its latest 'North Eastern Region District SDG Index' report released on Monday. A district is categorised as 'Front Runner' if it has a score between 65 and 99 in the SDG index. If a district has a score between 50 and 64.9, it is categorised as 'Performer'. Although the share of 'Front Runner' districts improved under all SDGs, the share of 'Front Runner' districts in three SDGs—namely SDG-7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG-10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG-12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)—has decreased in 2023-24 compared to 2021-22. The report also showed that all districts in three north-eastern states—Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura—fell under the 'Front Runner' category. The index is a joint effort of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and NITI Aayog, with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The index is the first of its kind progress-tracking tool for the north-eastern region, as it provides a granular, district-level assessment of progress made on the 17 SDGs. The first edition of the NER District SDG Index was released in August 2021. While the first edition of the index covered 103 out of 120 (86 per cent) districts of the North Eastern Region, this edition covers 121 out of 131 (92 per cent) districts. The current edition of the index includes 84 indicators. Of these, data for 41 indicators is from various ministries/departments of the Union Government, and data for 43 indicators is from state sources.
