Sikkim has emerged as a regional leader in sustainable development, with all six of its districts securing the prestigious ‘Front Runner’ status in the North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2023–24. The state now stands among the best-performing states in the Northeast, alongside Mizoram and Tripura, showcasing a balanced and inclusive approach to development. The index, released on July 7 by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), evaluates the performance of districts across 16 thematic SDG areas, including health, education, gender equality, clean water, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. What sets Sikkim apart is not just the high performance of individual districts, but the uniformity across all six districts—Gangtok, Mangan, Namchi, Gyalshing, Pakyong, and Soreng. The gap between the highest and lowest performing districts is just 5.5 points, with Gangtok scoring 76.64 and Gyalshing 71.14. This consistency contrasts with other states such as Mizoram, where the score gap between districts is significantly wider—nearly 14 points.
“This shows that Sikkim is not only progressing but progressing together,” said a senior NITI Aayog official. “The state demonstrates how balanced, inclusive development leads to sustained growth over time.” The achievement has been widely credited to the leadership of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, whose government has placed a strong emphasis on equitable development, grassroots governance, and SDG alignment. Initiatives in universal healthcare, quality education, rural empowerment, renewable energy, and gender equity have been introduced consistently across districts, ensuring that no region is left behind. Speaking about the milestone, state officials noted that Sikkim’s development strategy mirrors both national objectives and global sustainability goals, ensuring that progress is both people-centric and planet-friendly. Although Mizoram’s Hnahthial district topped the individual rankings with a score of 81.43, experts say Sikkim’s even performance across all districts sets a more sustainable and replicable model for the region. Tripura also made significant strides, with Gomati and Dhalai districts scoring 78.79 and 72.29, respectively, earning ‘Front Runner’ status.
The index aims to measure progress towards the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda at the most granular level—districts—where real impact is felt. The goal is to guide states and local governments in identifying development gaps and prioritizing resource allocation accordingly. The launch of the SDG index was attended by senior policymakers and development experts, including NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, MoDoNER Secretary Chanchal Kumar, and UNDP India Resident Representative Dr. Angela Lusigi.