International Institute for Population Sciences
Deemed to be University (An Autonomous Organization of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India)

In September 2015, the UN General Assembly established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) comprising 17 universal goals, 169 targets, and 230 indicators to be achieved by 2030. The tracking of health-related SDG indicators necessitates comprehensive, coherent, comparable, and up-to-date estimates. This study presents baseline and midline assessments of health-related SDGs in Indian states, analysing 38 indicators. Various data sources, including NFHS 2015-16 and 2019-21, GBD India Study, Census of India, SRS Reports, GATS, and reports from MoHFW, WHO, NITI Aayog, etc., were utilized. Statistical methods were applied to systematically compile and estimate the performance of these indicators for all states and union territories in 2015-16 and 2019-21. Each indicator was rescaled on a 0 to 100 scale, and the health-related SDG index, computed as the geometric mean of rescaled indicators by SDG target, provided an overall assessment. Spline regressions were employed to explore the relationship between the Human Development Index and other development indices. The results reveal a distinct disparity in health-related SDG achievements among Indian states, with the southern and north-western regions excelling, while the northern heartland (Hindi Belt) faces challenges. The study emphasizes the integral connection between human health and overall development, encompassing human development, poverty reduction, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Offering an independent and comparable method for monitoring progress, this study emphasizes the importance of independent measurement as a crucial aspect of accountability. However, it underscores that these findings should serve as a foundation for review and action at the subnational levels.