Uttarakhand received _______ rank in the Sustainable Development Index 2020-21 released by NITI Aayog.

The correct answer is 7th.

Key Points

• Uttarakhand secured the 7th rank in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2020-21.
• The SDG India Index is released by NITI Aayog, the policy think tank of the Government of India.
• The SDG India Index evaluates the performance of states and union territories based on their progress towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations.
• Uttarakhand’s ranking reflects its strong performance in areas such as health, education, and environmental sustainability.
• The SDG India Index serves as a vital tool for monitoring and fostering cooperative federalism by encouraging states to improve their performance in key development areas.

Additional Information

• About the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
  • The SDGs are a set of 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
  • They aim to address issues such as poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water, climate action, and sustainable cities.
  • Each goal is associated with specific targets and indicators to measure progress.
• SDG India Index:
  • The SDG India Index was first launched in 2018 by NITI Aayog to track the progress of states and UTs.
  • The index assigns scores ranging from 0 to 100, with 100 indicating full achievement of the goal.
  • The states are classified into four categories: Achiever, Front Runner, Performer, and Aspirant, based on their scores.
• Top Performers in SDG India Index 2020-21:
  • Kerala emerged as the top-performing state, achieving the highest overall score in the index.
  • Chandigarh ranked the highest among Union Territories.
• Role of NITI Aayog:
  • NITI Aayog plays a crucial role in aligning India's development agenda with the global SDGs through initiatives like the SDG India Index.
  • It ensures that the states and UTs have access to real-time data and policy tools to improve their performance.