Agartala, Jul 9: The land of seven sisters plus one brother is scripting a development success story that challenges every assumption about India’s northeastern region, with 85% of districts showing upward mobility in comprehensive development metrics. NITI Aayog’s latest district-level analysis reveals that from Assam’s universal improvements in education and hunger reduction to Mizoram’s regional leadership, the Northeast is emerging as an unexpected champion of sustainable development.
The second edition of the North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goals Index, released on Monday, presents a comprehensive assessment of 121 districts across eight northeastern states, measuring their performance against global development targets set for 2030. The index is developed by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region with technical support from UNDP, building upon the momentum of the first edition released on August 26, 2021.
In an unprecedented achievement, all districts in Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura have secured “Front Runner” status, with composite scores ranging between 65 and 99 points. This places every single district in these states among the top performers in sustainable development across the region. Mizoram’s Hnahthial district emerged as the regional champion with a score of 81.43, while Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district recorded the lowest score at 58.71, creating a performance range that spans 22.72 points across the region.
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While Mizoram claims the top position with “the highest-scoring district in the entire Northeast region,” Sikkim has distinguished itself through consistency. The Himalayan state demonstrates “the most consistent performance across its districts” with the narrowest score range of just 5.5 points between its highest-performing district, Gangtok at 76.64, and lowest, Gyalshing at 71.14. Tripura follows closely with “some of the highest-scoring districts with minimum intra-state variation” at 6.5 points, with Gomati scoring 78.79 and Dhalai achieving 72.29.
Nagaland has achieved a significant milestone with three districts breaking into the top 10 performers regionally. Mokokchung leads the state’s charge with a score of 78.43, while the state shows considerable variation with scores ranging from 78.43 to 63.36 in Zunheboto. The assessment reveals substantial progress in health outcomes, with “Good Health & Well-being witnesses increased scores in 93 districts” across the Northeast, representing one of the most significant achievements documented in the report.
Assam, the region’s most populous state, has shown focused improvements in critical areas. “All districts of Assam improved on indicators of Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation and Decent Work and Economic Growth,” the report notes, with Dibrugarh leading the state at 74.29 points. The state’s performance ranges from Dibrugarh’s 74.29 to South Salmara-Mankachar’s 59.71, while other states show varying patterns of development across their districts.
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The assessment reveals distinct performance patterns across all eight northeastern states. Arunachal Pradesh shows the widest variation, from Lower Dibang Valley’s 73.36 to Longding’s 58.71. Assam ranges from Dibrugarh’s 74.29 to South Salmara-Mankachar’s 59.71, while Manipur spans from Imphal West’s 73.21 to Pherzawl’s 59.71. Meghalaya shows a narrower range from East Khasi Hills’ 73.00 to East Jaintia Hills’ 63.00. Mizoram demonstrates strong overall performance despite variation, from Hnahthial’s 81.43 to Lawngtlai’s 67.71. Nagaland exhibits significant variation from Mokokchung’s 78.43 to Zunheboto’s 63.36, while Sikkim maintains consistency with Gangtok at 76.64 and Gyalshing at 71.14. Tripura rounds out the regional picture with Gomati at 78.79 and Dhalai at 72.29.
The index release ceremony, attended by senior officials including NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery and CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, emphasized the connection between regional progress and national aspirations.
“As India advances towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the achievement of intermediate milestones like the SDGs by 2030 is considered critical,” Bery stated during the launch.
CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam cited the Prime Minister calling the region “Ashta Lakshmi of eight states” and highlighted the importance of their growth and progress.
The assessment represents a collaborative effort reflecting “the true spirit of cooperative federalism” in bringing together the eight northeastern states, NITI Aayog, and MDoNER for unified development progress.
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Secretary of MDoNER Chanchal Kumar emphasized the practical utility of the assessment, stating that it serves as “a tool for identifying gaps, offer actionable insights to guide interventions and efficient resource deployment.”
The comprehensive assessment serves as more than just a scorecard. “The NER District SDG Index 2023-24 serves as a critical policy tool for evidence-based planning, resource allocation, and monitoring of developmental efforts,” the report states.
The index methodology, based on NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index framework, categorizes districts into four performance levels: Achiever (score equals 100), Front Runner (65-99), Performer (50-65), and Aspirant (below 50).
The report attributes the significant improvement in district performance to “the impact of national flagship schemes coupled with localisation efforts through initiatives like the Aspirational Districts Programme.”
Dr. Angela Lusigi, UNDP Resident Representative for India, stressed the importance of translating data into action, noting that “the ultimate priority is to ensure every data point translates into meaningful action that advances human development outcomes.”
The comprehensive assessment ensures that the development trajectory remains inclusive, with the report emphasizing that progress is being made while “ensuring that no district is left behind in the region’s development journey.”
(This story is based on the official press release issued by NITI Aayog on July 7, 2025.)