NITI Aayog Indices

NITI Aayog Indices

Introduction

Apart from global indices, India publishes several domestic development indices to measure the performance of states and Union Territories across sectors like health, education, water, innovation, and exports.

Most of these indices are prepared by NITI Aayog, India’s premier policy think tank established in 2015, replacing the Planning Commission.

These indices promote:

  • Competitive federalism

  • Evidence-based policymaking

  • Performance monitoring of states

  • Policy reforms based on data

UPSC frequently asks questions on publisher, objective, parameters, and top/bottom performers in these indices.

1️⃣ SDG India Index

Publisher: NITI Aayog

The SDG India Index measures the progress of Indian states and Union Territories toward achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Latest Edition

SDG India Index 2023–24

Top Performing States

  1. Kerala

  2. Himachal Pradesh

  3. Tamil Nadu

Lowest Performing States

  • Bihar

  • Jharkhand

  • Uttar Pradesh

Classification of States

States are categorized based on scores:

  • Aspirant: 0–49

  • Performer: 50–64

  • Front Runner: 65–99

  • Achiever: 100

No Indian state has yet achieved the Achiever category.

Key Indicators

The index measures progress across multiple sectors including:

  • Poverty reduction

  • Health and nutrition

  • Quality education

  • Gender equality

  • Clean energy

  • Climate action

Prelims Trap

Do not confuse:

  • SDG India Index → NITI Aayog

  • Global SDG Index → SDSN + Bertelsmann Stiftung

2️⃣ Health Index

Publisher: NITI Aayog
(in collaboration with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and World Bank)

The Health Index evaluates the performance of states in improving healthcare systems and health outcomes.

Latest Edition

Health Index 2021 (released 2022)

States are categorized into:

  • Large States

  • Small States

  • Union Territories

Top Performing Large States

  1. Kerala

  2. Tamil Nadu

  3. Telangana

Lowest Performing Large States

  • Uttar Pradesh

  • Bihar

Top Performing Small States

  1. Mizoram

  2. Tripura

  3. Sikkim

Top Performing Union Territories

  • Chandigarh

Major Indicators

The index measures performance across:

Health Outcomes

  • Infant Mortality Rate

  • Maternal Mortality Ratio

  • Total Fertility Rate

Governance & Information

  • Data reporting systems

  • Health management information

Key Inputs & Processes

  • Health infrastructure

  • Availability of doctors

  • Institutional deliveries

3️⃣ School Education Quality Index (SEQI)

Publisher: NITI Aayog

The SEQI evaluates the quality of school education across states and Union Territories.

Latest Edition

SEQI 2019

Top Performing Large States

  1. Kerala

  2. Rajasthan

  3. Karnataka

Lowest Performing States

  • Bihar

  • Uttar Pradesh

Top Performing Small States

  • Manipur

Key Indicators

The SEQI assesses performance across:

  • Learning outcomes

  • Access to education

  • Infrastructure

  • Equity

  • Governance processes

Objective

To help states improve learning outcomes and education quality through policy reforms.

4️⃣ Composite Water Management Index (CWMI)

Publisher: NITI Aayog

The Composite Water Management Index measures the efficiency of water resource management in Indian states.

Latest Edition

CWMI 2019

Top Performing States

  1. Gujarat

  2. Andhra Pradesh

  3. Madhya Pradesh

Low Performing States

  • Jharkhand

  • Haryana

  • Uttar Pradesh

Major Indicators

The index evaluates performance in:

  • Groundwater management

  • Irrigation efficiency

  • Watershed development

  • Water supply management

  • Policy and governance

Importance

Water management is crucial for:

  • Agriculture

  • Drinking water security

  • Climate resilience

5️⃣ India Innovation Index

Publisher: NITI Aayog
(in collaboration with Institute for Competitiveness)

The India Innovation Index measures the innovation ecosystem of Indian states.

Latest Edition

India Innovation Index 2022

Top Performing Major States

  1. Karnataka

  2. Telangana

  3. Haryana

Top Performing Union Territories

  • Delhi

Top Performing North-East / Hill States

  • Manipur

Key Parameters

  • Human capital

  • Investment in research

  • Startup ecosystem

  • Knowledge creation

  • Business environment

Importance

The index promotes innovation-led economic growth and supports India's startup ecosystem.

6️⃣ Export Preparedness Index

Publisher: NITI Aayog
(in collaboration with Institute of Competitiveness)

The Export Preparedness Index measures how prepared Indian states are to participate in international trade and exports.

Latest Edition

Export Preparedness Index 2022

Top Performing States

  1. Tamil Nadu

  2. Maharashtra

  3. Karnataka

Top Performing Union Territory

  • Delhi

Low Performing States

  • Bihar

  • Jharkhand

Key Pillars

  • Policy environment

  • Business ecosystem

  • Export infrastructure

  • Export performance

Importance of NITI Aayog Indices for UPSC

These indices are important because they:

  • Encourage competitive federalism

  • Track state-level development

  • Help design targeted policy interventions

  • Provide data-driven insights for governance

UPSC questions usually focus on:

  • Publisher of index

  • Key parameters

  • Top performing states

  • Differences between global and domestic indices

Quick Revision Table

Index                                                   Publisher                                              Top State (Latest)
SDG India IndexNITI AayogKerala
Health IndexNITI AayogKerala
SEQINITI AayogKerala
CWMINITI AayogGujarat
India Innovation IndexNITI AayogKarnataka
Export Preparedness IndexNITI AayogTamil Nadu


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