Latest news with #SustainableDevelopmentGoalsIndex
India Today
4 days ago
- Health
- India Today
Some progress, gaps galore: Bihar's development remains a challenge
As with any Indian election, development is an oft-repeated word in Bihar right now. But poll promises or not, data shows that the state continues to struggle with basic human development literacy, high dropoutThe literacy rate in the state was 61.8 per cent as of the 2011 census, significantly lower than the national average of 73 per cent, according to the NITI Aayog report, Macro and Fiscal Landscapeof the State of At the school level, enrolment in higher secondary education (Classes XI–XII) was just 35.6 per cent in 2015–16, and the pass percentage for Class X board exams also reflects this. In 2016–17, only 55.4 per cent of students in Bihar passed, compared to 86.1 per cent at the national level. And the dropout rate in Class X was 73.3 per cent in Bihar, more than double the national figure of 35.2 per childrenNutrition is also a major issue in Bihar. According to NFHS-5 data from 2019 to 2021, 42.9 per cent of children under the age of five in the state are stunted, meaning they are too short for their age due to chronic undernutrition. This is higher than the national rate of 35.5 per cent. Similarly, 41 per cent of children are is a major issue in the state, affecting nearly 70 per cent of children in Bihar, slightly above the national average of 67.1 per cent. However, Bihar's total fertility rate stands at three children per woman, compared to the national average of state's infant mortality rate, at 27 deaths per 1,000 live births, is slightly better than the national rate. Bihar's life expectancy is 69.5 years, almost the same as India's, which means many children in the state are growing up without adequate food, healthcare, or early life utilities improving, sanitation still poorBihar has improved utilities, but basic sanitation is missing. As of NFHS-5 (2019–21), 99.1 per cent of Bihar households had access to improved drinking water and electricity access has also expanded. Both indicators had higher percentages in comparison to the national access to sanitation remains low. Only 47.3 per cent of households in Bihar had access to any kind of sanitation facility, compared to 69.3 per cent nationally. This means that more than half of Bihar's population either uses shared, unsafe facilities or practices open terms of broader well-being, Bihar's Multidimensional Poverty Index is twice the national score. The state's Sustainable Development Goals Index score for 2023–24 is 57, while India's overall score is 71. This reflects poor performance across multiple areas, including education, gender equality, sanitation, and health. Bihar remains among the bottom-performing states in the national SDG lagadvertisementBihar's developmental challenges are further reflected in its fiscal and economic structure. The state's nominal per capita GSDP stands at Rs 52,379, which is less than a third of the national average of Rs 171,498 in FY 2021– economy also leans heavily on agriculture, which contributes 24.3 per cent to its GSDP, far more than the national average of 16.9 per cent, while the industrial sector contributes just 17.2 per cent, much lower than India's 27.1 per cent. This points to a weak industrial base and limited income-generating data shows that while Bihar has made progress in some areas, serious challenges remain in education, child health, sanitation, and the industrial sector. And in the upcoming elections, these issues must be highlighted for a better future of the state.- EndsTune InMust Watch
India Today
07-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
India among top 100 meeting UN's Sustainable Development Goals. But challenges remain
For the first time ever, India is among the top 100 countries in the Sustainable Development Goals Index. Ranking 99th out of 167 countries now, India has come far. It was 110th in 2016, the year India's ranking began. Sustainable development goals are a set of 17 global targets adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all — by JUST IN TOP 100India, according to the 2025 report, is also among the top five G20 countries showing the fastest progress between 2015 and 2024. India recorded a 7.6 point improvement during this period, tying with Indonesia, and just behind Saudi Arabia, which saw an 8.1 point gain. The G20 average is calculated using data from 19 individual countries, excluding the aggregated scores for the European Union and the African Union. However, what are the major challenges India still faces?MAJOR ISSUESThe SDG Index monitors 17 global goals spanning areas such as poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, and climate action. For India, food security remains a major concern, with the goal of Zero Hunger showing persistent challenges and a stagnating like malnutrition, unequal food access, and agrarian distress continue to impede progress, particularly in rural and tribal areas. In addition, sectors like Good Health and Well-Being, Gender Equality, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Life Below Water, Life on Land, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions — all pose major challenges, with trends either stagnating or only moderately increasing. These remain critical areas where India needs to accelerate its efforts to meet the 2030 targets. Areas where India has witnessed notable progress but have significant challenges include Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, and Responsible Consumption and Production. These sectors show either moderately increasing or stagnating trends. Among them, Reduced Inequalities stands out with a positive trajectory, as it is considered on track or maintaining achievement, reflecting sustained progress in addressing are other sectors where India sees challenges, such as No Poverty, Quality Education, and Climate Action. The country is considered on track or maintaining achievement in No poverty, reflecting improvements. Quality Education shows a moderately increasing trend, pointing to gradual improvements in enrolment and learning outcomes. However, Climate Action remains a pressing concern, with the report indicating a declining trend.- EndsMust Watch
