India’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) at HLPF 2025

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India reaffirms its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development when it presents its Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2025. The VNR describes India’s inclusive development strategies, policy innovations, and decentralized implementation models while highlighting progress toward several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). India prioritizes gender equity, poverty reduction, climate resilience, and digital empowerment by fusing global sustainability standards with regional governance frameworks.

Strategy for Implementation

• With the help of important instruments like the National Multi-dimensional Poverty Index, the NorthEastern Region District SDG Index, and the SDG India Index, India is strengthening data-driven government and localizing SDG implementation.

About the HLPF (High-Level Political Forum)

Created in 2012 as part of the “The Future We Want” conclusion of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).

• It serves as the primary UN forum for monitoring and evaluating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
• Under the direction of the Economic and Social Council, it meets annually; under the direction of the General Assembly, it meets every four years.

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Important Points

India is steadily advancing, even while global progress is lagging. Approximately 248 million people are projected to have escaped Multidimensional Poverty (MPI) between 2013–14 and 2022–23, according to SDG 1 (No Poverty).

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Millions of people have received nutritional support thanks to PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing): The percentage of total health expenditures that are paid for out of pocket has decreased from 48.8% in 2017–18 to 39.4% in 2020–21.

Initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, PM-KUSUM, and the National Green Hydrogen Mission are bolstering India’s shift to clean energy. The diverse population of India has been empowered by Digital India, Aadhaar, and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which is responsible for 49% of all real-time payments worldwide.

Mains: 

Question: India’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2025 showcases its localized approach to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Critically examine how India balances global sustainability commitments with regional governance frameworks.

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Mains PYQs: 

Question: Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (UPSC IAS 2018)

MCQs:

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Question: With reference to the Voluntary National Review (VNR) presented by India at the HLPF 2025, consider the following statements:

1. The VNR emphasizes India’s efforts in inclusive development, policy innovation, and decentralized SDG implementation.
2. India’s VNR at HLPF 2025 primarily focuses on regional trade integration and defense cooperation.
3. Gender equity, poverty alleviation, climate resilience, and digital empowerment are key priority areas highlighted in India’s VNR.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2, and 3

Answer: B. 1 and 3 only

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