🟩 Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025

📰 Context

• India has ranked 99th in the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025, entering the Top 100 for the first time.

• Released by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).

• This is the 10th edition of the report.

• Marks a significant milestone in India’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

🧭 What is the Sustainable Development Report (SDR)?

• A global annual assessment of how well countries are progressing towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• The SDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• SDR evaluates and ranks 193 UN member countries based on their performance on SDG targets.

• It is considered the most credible and comprehensive global SDG tracking report.

📊 Who publishes it?

• Released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).

• SDSN is a global initiative for promoting sustainable development through research and policy advice.

🎯 Focus of SDR 2025

• Financing the SDGs by 2030.

• Reforming the Global Financial Architecture (GFA) to support low and middle-income countries.

• Emphasis on inequality in global finance and the need to make it fairer and more inclusive.

🌍 Key Global Highlights of SDR 2025

• Widespread Participation:

  • 190 out of 193 UN members submitted Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs).

  • These are self-assessments countries submit to the UN to showcase SDG progress.

• Top Performers:

  • Finland (1st), Sweden (2nd), Denmark (3rd) – consistent leaders in sustainable development.

  • 19 out of the top 20 countries are from Europe, showcasing long-term investment in education, welfare, green energy, and governance.

• Fastest Progress Regions:

  • East and South Asia lead in SDG improvements since 2015 due to economic growth and focused public policy.

• Top Improvers:

  • Benin (+14.5), Nepal (+11.1), UAE (+9.9), Peru (+8.7) made the most progress in scores compared to last year.

• Lagging Performance Globally:

  • None of the 17 SDGs are on track globally.

  • Only 17% of SDG targets are progressing well – signaling a need for urgent action.

• Multilateralism Ranking:

  • Barbados ranks 1st for commitment to UN cooperation.

  • USA ranks last (193rd) – due to recent trends of withdrawal from multilateral forums.

• Fiscal Deficit and Financing Crisis:

  • Nearly 50% of countries lack fiscal capacity to fund SDG efforts (i.e., they don’t have enough budgetary space).

  • The Global Financial Architecture (GFA) is considered biased toward rich countries, failing to support developing nations.

🇮🇳 India in SDR 2025

• Rank: 99th (India’s best rank so far, first time in the top 100).

• SDG Index Score: 67.0 points – a sign of steady improvement.

• Comparative Standing:

  • China: 49th

  • Bangladesh: 114th

  • Pakistan: 140th

  • Shows India is ahead of its South Asian neighbours, except China.

• Areas of Progress:

  • SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being) – Improvements in public health services.

  • SDG 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy) – Expanded electricity access and clean energy initiatives.

  • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure) – Strengthening digital infrastructure and industry.

• Major Challenges for India:

  • SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) – Rising obesity and malnutrition coexisting (double burden of malnutrition).

  • SDG 13 (Climate Action) – Vulnerabilities to climate disasters, insufficient emission control.

  • SDG 16 (Peace, Justice & Institutions) – Concerns over press freedom, civil liberties, and justice delivery.

🚧 Key Challenges to Global SDG Progress

• Geopolitical Conflicts:

  • Wars and internal conflicts are disrupting public services and SDG programs in many regions (e.g., West Asia, Africa).

• Debt & Fiscal Pressure:

  • Many low-income countries are under debt stress, leaving little space to fund health, education, and sustainability.

• Climate Change:

  • Acts as a threat multiplier, increasing poverty, inequality, and resource stress.

• Broken Global Finance System:

  • Current system channels more capital to wealthy nations, while Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs) face underfunding.

• Weak Governance:

  • Poor institutional capacity, data gaps, and corruption in many countries hinder SDG implementation.

🛠️ Recommendations in SDR 2025

• Finance the UN System:

  • Ensure predictable and adequate funding for UN agencies working on SDGs.

• Debt Relief Mechanisms:

  • Innovative debt restructuring tools to free up fiscal space for poor countries.

• Global Commons Investment:

  • Scale up funding in climate action, biodiversity protection, and clean energy.

• Reform the Global Financial Architecture (GFA):

  • Make international finance institutions more inclusive.

  • Encourage private investments aligned with long-term SDG priorities.

• Strengthen Multilateralism:

  • Promote UN-based cooperation, joint programs, and shared responsibility among nations.

🧩 Why SDR is Important for UPSC?

• Static GS Paper 2:

  • Topics like governance, multilateral institutions (UN, SDSN), social justice, and international cooperation.

• Dynamic GS Paper 3:

  • Environment, climate change, sustainable development, public finance.

• Essay Paper:

  • Themes like “Financing the Future”, “Role of Global Cooperation in Sustainable Growth”, etc.

• Prelims:

  • Questions may be asked on who publishes the SDR, India’s ranking, focus of the 2025 edition, etc.