The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Sustainable Development Goals National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report 2026 on the 20th Statistics Day, offering the most comprehensive official assessment of India’s progress across all 17 SDGs using 277 national indicators. The report shows that development gains are broad-based, spanning poverty reduction, social protection, healthcare, education, digital infrastructure, and environmental management. Social protection coverage nearly tripled from 22% in 2019 to 65.3% in 2026, while multidimensional poverty declined from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-21.
What Is the National Indicator Framework?
The National Indicator Framework (NIF) is the Government of India’s official statistical system for monitoring progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. MoSPI developed it in consultation with line ministries, NITI Aayog, United Nations agencies, and other stakeholders to create a data-driven mechanism that tracks India’s performance on all 17 SDGs.
The NIF 2026 contains 277 national indicators, each aligned with specific SDG targets. These indicators specify data sources and reporting periodicity, with responsibility for data collection resting with the concerned ministries and departments. A High Level Steering Committee (HLSC) chaired by the Chief Statistician of India periodically reviews and updates the framework. The NIF also supports State Indicator Frameworks (SIF) and District Indicator Frameworks (DIF), enabling sub-national monitoring and planning.
On the 20th Statistics Day, celebrated on 29 June 2026 to mark the birth anniversary of statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, MoSPI released four publications: the NIF Progress Report 2026, the NIF 2026 with metadata, a Data Snapshot on SDG progress, and a thematic bulletin titled “Transforming Lives: India’s Achievements under the People Dimension of the SDGs.”
Poverty and Social Protection: Major Strides
The report recorded a sharp decline in multidimensional poverty. The headcount ratio fell from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-21, meaning approximately 13.5 crore people moved out of multidimensional poverty in just five years. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) value nearly halved from 0.117 to 0.066, and the intensity of poverty reduced from 47.14% to 44.39% during the same period.
India’s MPI, developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), measures deprivations across 12 indicators under three dimensions: health, education, and standard of living. The improvement was driven by flagship programmes including Poshan Abhiyan, Swachh Bharat Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
On social protection, the proportion of the population covered under structured systems surged from 22% in 2019 to 65.3% in 2026, bringing approximately 94 crore Indians under the safety net of at least one central welfare scheme. Major contributors include the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana covering over 80 crore people with free foodgrains, Ayushman Bharat with nearly 40 crore health cards issued, and the eShram portal registering over 30 crore unorganised workers.
Healthcare and Education: Quantifiable Progress
India’s maternal and child health indicators recorded notable improvements. Institutional deliveries overseen by skilled health personnel increased to 91.3% from 81.4% over the past decade, reflecting strengthened public health infrastructure under programmes such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan. Postnatal care for newborns within two days of delivery also improved significantly.
In education, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for higher secondary schools (Classes 11-12) reached 58.40%, up from 56.2% in the previous year, according to the UDISE+ 2024-25 data compiled by the Ministry of Education. School internet connectivity more than doubled, reaching 84.2% of schools connected, compared to around 33.9% in 2020-21. This rapid expansion was driven by the push for digital learning after the pandemic, though significant gaps remain, particularly in government schools in states such as West Bengal and Bihar.
Digital Infrastructure: Bridging the Connectivity Divide
India’s digital transformation over the past decade has been remarkable. Total internet subscriptions rose from 302.36 million in 2015 to 969.10 million in 2025, a more than threefold increase, according to TRAI data. Of these, 944.12 million are broadband subscribers, reflecting the shift toward high-speed connectivity. National 4G population coverage reached 99.51%, and 5G networks now cover over 86% of the population.
The report also noted that Aadhaar coverage rose to 95.67%, underlining the near-universal reach of India’s digital identity system. The JAM trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) has enabled Direct Benefit Transfers that reduced fiscal leakages by over Rs 3.48 lakh crore. India achieved 100% household electrification under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya), launched in October 2017, which provided electricity connections to 2.86 crore households across the country. Rural households with piped drinking water increased from 21.33% to 81.81%, driven by the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Environmental Management and Waste Processing
India’s environmental infrastructure recorded measurable gains. The number of functional waste recycling plants expanded from 829 in 2019-20 to 3,236 in 2025-26, a nearly fourfold increase. This growth has been supported by regulatory mandates such as the amended Plastics Waste Management Rules requiring 40% recycled content in PET bottles, and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework that compels brand owners to use a minimum of 30% recycled plastic in rigid packaging.
The proportion of India’s wetland area under international protection has more than doubled. Ramsar sites, designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, now cover 8.66% of India’s total wetland landscape, up from 4.15% in 2016. India crossed the milestone of 100 Ramsar sites in June 2026, with the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, becoming the 100th site. This gives India the largest Ramsar network in Asia and the third largest globally, after the United Kingdom and Mexico. The country had only 26 Ramsar sites in 2014, meaning 74 sites were added in just over a decade.
Installed renewable energy capacity per capita nearly tripled from 64.04 watts per capita in 2014-15 to 193.36 watts per capita in recent years, reflecting India’s continued expansion of clean energy infrastructure in line with its target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
Key Takeaways
- The SDG National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report 2026 was released by MoSPI on the 20th Statistics Day (29 June 2026), containing 277 national indicators across all 17 SDGs.
- Multidimensional poverty in India declined from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-21, with approximately 13.5 crore people escaping poverty.
- Social protection coverage surged from 22% in 2019 to 65.3% in 2026, covering about 94 crore Indians under at least one welfare scheme.
- Institutional deliveries by skilled health personnel reached 91.3%, and the Gross Enrolment Ratio for higher secondary education rose to 58.40%.
- India achieved 100% household electrification under the Saubhagya scheme, and internet subscriptions grew from 302 million in 2015 to 969 million in 2025.
- Functional waste recycling plants increased from 829 in 2019-20 to 3,236 in 2025-26, and Ramsar sites now cover 8.66% of India’s wetland area, with India crossing 100 Ramsar sites in June 2026.
