NITI Aayog released the second edition of the NER (North Eastern Region) District SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Index Report 2023-24 on 07 July 2025.
Developed by:
The Index is developed by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER), with technical support from UNDP.
About Index:
- The Index, which builds upon the momentum of the first edition released on 26 August 2021, measures the performance of districts across eight North Eastern States on the SDGs.
- Based on NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index methodology, it serves as a key tool for monitoring development related progress at the district level in the region to inform decision making.
- The 2023-24 Index is a major milestone in improving monitoring at the regional level. The index reflects the commitment to address development challenges across social, economic, and environmental dimensions while ensuring that no one is left behind in the NER.
NER District SDG Index Report 2023-24: Highlights
» The NER District SDG Index 2023-24 serves as a critical policy tool for evidence-based planning, resource allocation, and monitoring of developmental efforts.
Overall performance of the NER Region:
- In 2021-22, 64 districts were placed in the front runner category and 39 districts in the performer category.
- In 2023-24, 103 districts have been placed in the front runner category and 18 in the performer category.
Results and findings:
» Districts are categorized into four categories:
- Achiever: Score equals 100 (achieved the targets set for identified indicators)
- Front Runner: Score between 65 and 99 (excluding 100)
- Performer: Score between 50 and 65 (excluding 65)
- Aspirant: Score less than 50
» The composite scores for the 121 districts ranges from 58.71 to 81.43. Mizoram has the highest-scoring district in the entire Northeast region (Hnahthial at 81.43) and Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest-scoring district in the entire region (Longding at 58.71).
Top 10 Districts in NER District SDG Index 2023-24:
| State | District | Score | Rank |
| Mizoram | Hnahthial | 81.43 | 1 |
| Mizoram | Champhai | 79.86 | 2 |
| Tripura | Gomati | 78.79 | 3 |
| Nagaland | Mokokchung | 78.43 | 4 |
| Tripura | West Tripura | 77.64 | 5 |
| Nagaland | Kohima | 76.93 | 6 |
| Tripura | South Tripura | 76.71 | 7 |
| Sikkim | Gangtok | 76.64 | 8 |
| Mizoram | Kolasib | 76.50 | 9 |
| Nagaland | Dimapur | 76.29 | 10 |
Key Points:
- All districts in Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura have achieved Front Runner status, with no districts falling in the Aspirant or Achiever categories.
- Sikkim has the narrowest range (5.5 points) in terms of the score of the highest and lowest district, showing the most consistent performance across its districts.
- Tripura has the distinction of having some of the highest-scoring districts with minimum intra-state variation (6.5 points).
- Mizoram and Nagaland have some of the highest-scoring districts but also exhibit variation (ranges of 13.72 and 15.07, respectively).
State-wise overall performance of districts over the last two editions:
State-wise Highest and Lowest Scores of Districts within states:
| State | Highest Score | Lowest Score |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Lower Dibang Valley (73.36) | Longding (58.71) |
| Assam | Dibrugarh (74.29) | South Salmara-Mankachar (59.71) |
| Manipur | Imphal West (73.21) | Pherzawl (59.71) |
| Meghalaya | East Khasi Hills (73.00) | East Jaintia Hills (63.00) |
| Mizoram | Hnahthial (81.43) | Lawngtlai (67.71) |
| Nagaland | Mokokchung (78.43) | Zunheboto (63.36) |
| Sikkim | Gangtok (76.64) | Gyalshing (71.14) |
| Tripura | Gomati (78.79) | Dhalai (72.29) |