The SDG India Index was launched last year (2018) by Niti Aayog with the help of United Nations.
It took into account 16 out of 17 goals specified by the United Nations as SDGs
It evaluates progress of States and Union Territories on social, economic and environmental parameters.
It will generate competition among the states to further improve on SDGs like poverty, education and health
According to this year report, India's composite score improved from 57 in 2018 to 60 in 2019 with major success in water and sanitation, industry and innovation.
However, nutrition and gender continue to be problem areas for India, requiring more focussed approach from the government.
The first report had 13 goals and 39 indicators.
The Index this year ranked states based on 54 targets spread over 100 indicators out of 306 outlined by the UN.
States
Kerala achieved the first rank in the composite SDG Index with a score of 70, followed by Himachal Pradesh at 69.
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu ranked at the third position with the score of 67.
Chandigarh too maintained its top spot among the UTs with a score of 70.
Bihar was adjudged as the worst performer.
The states showing biggest improvement since 2018 are Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim.
UP has moved from the 29th position to the 23rd position.
Odisha from 23rd to 15th and Sikkim from 15th to 7th position.
Front runners
Only three states were placed in the category of Front Runners (with a score in the range 65-99, including both) in 2018 - Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
In 2019, five more states joined this league - Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Sikkim and Goa, taking the total tally to eight.
The states were classified under 4 categories based on their scores.
0 to 49 - Aspirant
50 to 64 - Performers
65 to 99 - Front Runner
with a score of 100 - Achiever
About SDG
The year 2020 will be the fifth anniversary of the adoption of SDGs by 193 countries at the UN General Assembly
The SDGs have 17 goals and 169 related targets to be achieved by 2030.