One-sixth of the world’s population lives in India, which is essential to the 2030 Agenda’s success. In its second VNR, India has adopted a “whole-of-society” concept, involving the corporate sector, local communities, subnational and local governments, civil society organizations, and persons in vulnerable situations.
India’s connection with the national development strategy, as shown by the motto Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas, shows its dedication to the SDGs. The country has created a strong SDG localization strategy focused on adoption, implementation, and monitoring at the State and district levels. This model is based on data from the SDG India Index, which monitors progress at the subnational level.
Agendas and Campaigns
The text that follows summarizes India’s progress toward the SDGs in more detail.
Sashakt Bharat – Sabal Bharat (Empowered and Resilient India)
Through economic growth and empowerment, India has effectively raised more than 271 million people out of poverty. There are now fewer discrepancies, especially for those who are vulnerable, thanks to improved access to housing, sanitation, drinking water, education, and other basic necessities. There are now fewer discrepancies, especially for those who are vulnerable, thanks to improved access to housing, sanitation, drinking water, education, and other basic necessities.
(Swachh Bharat – Swasth Bharat) Clean and Healthy India
India has achieved 100% rural sanitation, a sharp decline in malnutrition, and low rates of infant and maternal mortality thanks to a national initiative spurred by the Clean India Campaign and the National Nutrition Mission. Through Ayushmaan Bharat, the largest health protection program in the world that gives a yearly guarantee of USD 7,000 to 100 million families, covering approximately 500 million people, universal health coverage has been established.
India is leading the charge for globally coordinated actions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The nation has provided medical aid to other nations and launched the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund with a US$10 million initial commitment. India’s domestic reaction to the COVID-19 epidemic consists of a first USD 22.5 billion stimulus plan for the economy, substantial health coverage for front-line employees, and direct cash transfers for the most vulnerable.
Samagra Bharat – Saksham Bharat (Inclusive and Entrepreneurial India)
Universal access to nourishment, health, education, social security, and the development of entrepreneurial and employment skills are all steps toward achieving social inclusion. Financial inclusion through the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity, which includes widely accepted access to bank accounts made possible by the Jan Dhan Yojana (National Financial Inclusion Scheme), widespread access to Aadhaar cards (National Unique Identity Numbers), and widespread use of mobile phones, has opened up new channels for the poor, including over 200 million women, to access credit, insurance, and Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), accelerating their economic empowerment.
India’s climate action plans demand for clean and efficient energy systems, infrastructure that is resilient to disasters, and organized eco-restoration.
India’s climate action plans demand for clean and efficient energy systems, infrastructure that is resilient to disasters, and organized eco-restoration. Acting on its nationally mandated contributions, India has electrified all villages, provided clean cooking fuel to 80 million low-income households, reduced CO2 emissions by 38 million tonnes annually through energy-efficient appliances, and set a goal to install 450GW of renewable energy and restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. India ranks third overall in the world for renewable energy, fourth for wind energy, and fifth for solar energy. In order to harness international alliances for tackling climate change and disaster resilience, India established the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
Sampanna Bharat-Samriddh (Prosperous and Dynamic India)
Bharat With a young population and a dynamic innovation and business ecosystem, India is one of the developing market economies that is growing the fastest. India, which had a GDP of USD 2.72 trillion in 2018–19, aims to reach a USD 5 trillion economy by 2025 and pursues a sustainable and inclusive growth trajectory through promoting entrepreneurship, manufacturing, infrastructure development, and investments.
India assists developing nations through the USD 150 million India-UN Development Partnership Fund in the spirit of South-South Cooperation to realize the 2030 Agenda. India enters the Decade of Action with the confidence that comes from its track record of overcoming obstacles, in the spirit of regional and international collaborations and the nation’s pledge to “leave no one behind.”
These are a few of the many initiatives underwent by the Indian Government for the nation’s fluctuating economy. One of the least wasteful economies is India. It has frequently received praise from stakeholders for its cooperation and initiatives to advance climate adaptation and environmental sustainability; this has been done through policy measures, the facilitation of international dialogue, and the adoption of decisive actions, particularly after India emerged as a key player in shaping the Paris Agreement.
Further Into Sustainability
Talking about sustainable practices, India is gradually shifting towards more sustainable practice while still being the nation which has the most sustainable ideas.
The lifestyle and culture still incorporate sustainable and environmentally favorable behaviors. India is known for its thriftiness as well as its culture of hoarding (in case something might come in handy) (re-use and hand-me-downs). It is not unusual to see an old cloth being used as a duster in an Indian home.
Things with no value at all, like discarded books, newspapers, or kitchenware, can be simply sold to scrap dealers to be recycled or reused. Other well-known sustainable practices include bucket bathing, drying clothes in the sun, and washing dishes by hand. Aversion to food waste is another cultural trait.
Rural communities in India still maintain a basic and thrifty way of life while living close to nature (approximately 70% of the country’s population as of 2011).
A global report on sustainable living is called Greendex. National Geographic and Globescan’s research examines how customers are reacting to environmental concerns. The evaluations evaluate housing, transportation, food, and commodities. Out of 18 competitors, including China, India holds the top rank on this index.
Conclusion
However, socio-economic patterns are changing as the economy expands and matures. The country still has environmental challenges, notwithstanding its accomplishments so far.
In order to address environmental issues and learn how to coexist in sustainable communities, both India and the rest of the globe have a long and difficult road ahead of them. We must understand that sustainable development is a shared duty and that development is not just an economic endeavor.
India does appear to be in the lead. We should join together as a global family and village to learn from one another, and useful lessons can be gleaned from both conventional knowledge and cutting-edge scientific research.
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