NITI Aayog releases SDG Urban Index

NEW DELHI: NITI Aayog released its Sustainable Development Goal Urban Index on Tuesday, November 24,  wherein Shimla, Coimbatore, Chandigarh, Thiruvanathapuram, and Kochi have topped the list. 

The Index was developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) under the umbrella of Indo-German Development Cooperation. Over 56 urban areas were ranked on 77 categories across 46 targets of the Sustainable Development Goal framework. 

NITI Aayog, in an official statement, highlighted the significance of localizing the SDGs. This ranking would institutionalize the documentation and monitoring system of the SDG progress at the national, state/UT and local levels. The Aayog also stated that the index highlights the strengths and gaps of the urban local bodies in terms of data, monitoring and reporting systems. The index will contribute to the creation of an ecosystem in which all the actors involved will be equipped with the knowledge to adapt and implement data-driven decision-making for a sustainable future. 

NITI Aayog’s vision is aligned with the increased importance of transformative changes in the ever-expanding urban area and cities. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog stated that cities have become the engines of growth. The SDG Urban Index and dashboard will help in charting and monitoring the cities as they work towards localising SDGs. 

Aayog ranked the urban areas on a scale of 0-100 for each SDG. If an area scores 100, it implies that the specific area has achieved the targets set for 2030 whereas a score of 0 would mean that they are farthest from achieving the targets. Areas ranking between 0 and 49 have been classified as ‘aspirants’, those between 50-64 are called ‘performers’ and 65-99 are referred to as ‘front-runners’. Out of the 56 urban areas selected for the evaluation, not a single one managed to have a perfect score.