NAVVNEET DUBEY
Jammu: Jammu & Kashmir has made consistent improvements across key development indicators in its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) journey. As per the NITI Aayog SDG India Index 2023-24, J&K’s composite SDG score has risen sharply from 53 in 2018 to 74 in 2023-24, marking a gain of 21 points over five years. With this jump, J&K has emerged as the second fastest-improving Union Territory nationally and has been placed second among all Union Territories in the latest rankings.
The SDG India Index, released annually by NITI Aayog, measures progress of States and UTs on 16 SDGs based on 113 indicators aligned with the 2030 Agenda. The composite score indicates the overall distance to the target, with higher scores denoting better performance. The UNDP team observed that J&K’s upward movement on the index shows the impact of policy reforms, digitization of service delivery, expansion of social welfare schemes, and improved data collection and monitoring at the district level. They noted that the 21-point gain is among the highest recorded by any UT during the period and signals stronger institutional coordination between the Government, civil society, and development partners.
The findings were shared during discussions in a meeting chaired to assess the strategy proposed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for aligning the annual budget of Jammu & Kashmir with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with emphasis on outcome-based planning, convergence of schemes and evidence-based allocation of public resources.
The UNDP team made a detailed presentation to provide a preliminary roadmap for aligningpublic expenditure with the Sustainable Development Goals, outlining a structured approach for integrating SDGs into the budgeting and public financial management architecture of the Union Territory.
The presentation noted that J&K has already established important institutional foundations for SDG localisation. The SDG Coordination Centre (SDGCC) was established with technical support from NITI Aayog and UNDP, while State and District Indicator Frameworks have been finalised and progress reports prepared for all 20 districts with a live monitoring dashboard also operational here.
The proposed intervention is expected to strengthen the shift from input-based to outcome-based governance, enabling departments to assess the actual contribution of public expenditure towards development goals. The framework would also help identify underfunded SDG areas, improve convergence among schemes, avoid duplication and support evidence-based rationalisation of schemes and allocations. District-level SDG budget tracking is expected to provide greater visibility of regional disparities and help ensure that development priorities of remote and underserved areas receive appropriate attention.
The Chief Secretary’s directions are expected to provide the next step towards developing a J&K-specific, department-wise and outcome-oriented roadmap for SDG achievement, with budgetary resources, existing schemes, additional interventions and measurable outcomes brought together within a common planning framework.
The presentation noted that J&K has already established important institutional foundations for SDG localisation. The SDG Coordination Centre (SDGCC) was established with technical support from NITI Aayog and UNDP, while State and District Indicator Frameworks have been finalised and progress reports prepared for all 20 districts with a live monitoring dashboard also operational here.
The proposed intervention is expected to strengthen the shift from input-based to outcome-based governance, enabling departments to assess the actual contribution of public expenditure towards development goals.
