Analysis of the 10th Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025: Global Progress, India's Milestones, and the Way Forward
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47203/IJCH.2025.v37i06.035Keywords:
Data Systems, Electricity, Infant mortality, Climate Change, Social Security, Sustainable Development, United NationsAbstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are only around 17% of their targets on track, and global progress toward them has stalled. However, significant progress has been made in the areas of social safety, energy, health, and access to education. With an SDG Index score of 67/100 in 2025, India earned its highest-ever ranking—99th globally—and debuted in the top 100. Significant national achievements include steep drops in maternal and infant mortality, almost universal access to electricity, and primary education. Nonetheless, India continues to lag in terms of SDG 2 (nutrition), SDG 4 (post-secondary education), and environmental targets. This article summarizes international trends, emphasizes India's advancements, and offers suggestions for accelerating action through partnerships, data systems, and funding.
Downloads
References
Drishti IAS. 10th Sustainable Development Report 2025 (Internet). New Delhi: Drishti IAS; 2025 Jun 25 (cited 30/07/2025). Available from: https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/10th-sustainable-development-report-2025
Sustainable Development Report. Country Rankings 2025 [Internet]. New York: SDG Index; 2025 [cited 30/07/2025]. Available from: https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/rankings
Sustainable Development Report. India Progress Profile 2025 (Internet). New York: SDG Index; 2025 (cited 30/07/2025). Available from: https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/profiles/india
United Nations Statistics Division. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 [Internet]. New York: United Nations; 2025 Jul 14 [cited 30/07/2025]. Available from: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2025
Jagran Josh. Sustainable Development Report 2025: Check India’s Rank and Top Ranking Countries [Internet]. Jagran Josh; 2025 Jul 2 [cited 31/07/2025]. Available from: https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/sustainable-development-report-check-topranking-countries-and-know-india-rank-1820000401-1
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Press Briefing: Launch of The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 [Internet]. New York: UN DESA; 2025 Jul 14 [cited 31/07/2025]. Available from: https://www.un.org/en/desa-en/press-briefing-launch-sustainable-development-goals-report-2025
SDG Transformation Center. Sustainable Development Report 2025 [Internet]. Paris: SDGTC; 2025 Jun 24 [cited 31/07/2025]. Available from: https://sdgtransformationcenter.org/reports/sustainable-development-report-2025
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India. Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework: Progress Report 2025 (Internet). New Delhi: MoSPI; 2025 Jun 29 (cited 31/07/2025). Available from: https://www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/publication_reports/Sustainable%20Development%20Goals%20%E2%80%93%20National%20Indicator%20Framework%2C%202025.pdf
United Nations. Launch of the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 [Video; Internet]. New York: UN Web TV; 2025 Jul 14 [cited 30/07/2025]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Afm04x2Ow
Sustainable Development Report. SDR 2025 Dashboard (Internet). New York: SDSN; 2025 (cited 30/07/2025). Available from: https://dashboards.sdgindex.org
Drishti IAS. SDG Progress and Challenges [Internet]. New Delhi: Drishti IAS; 2025 Mar 28 [cited 30/07/2025]. Available from: https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sdg-progress-challenges
Brundtland G, Khalid M, Agnelli S, al. Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Report) (Internet). Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1987 (cited 30/07/2025). Available from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Brundtland-Report
United Nations. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Internet). Geneva: UN; 2015 (cited 30/07/2025). Available from: https://www.undrr.org/implementing-sendai-framework/what-sendai-framework
United Nations. Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Internet). New York: UN; 2015 (cited 30/07/2025). Available from: https://www.un.org/esa/ffd/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/AAAA_Outcome.pdf
United Nations. Paris Agreement (Internet). New York: UN; 2015 (cited 30/07/2025). Available from: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/english_paris_agreement.pdf
Securities and Exchange Board of India. Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting by Listed Entities (BRSR) (Internet). Mumbai: SEBI; 2021 (cited 30/07/2025). Available from: https://www.sebi.gov.in/reports-and-statistics/reports/circulars/may-2021/business-responsibility-and-sustainability-reporting-by-listed-entities_50035.html
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr Nandita Sharma, Dr Mahendra Singh, Pradeep Aggarwal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
