Sustainable Development Goal India Index and its Implementation in Indian Libraries

Abstract

Purpose: This paper will discuss the key features of the Sustainable Development Goals India Index by GoI (Government of India) and what has been done for Indian libraries in the area in alignment with the GOI index. This paper suggests a framework to include libraries in India that can be aligned with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals India Index of MoSPI’s (Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation) National Indicator Framework.

 Methodology: This paper adopts a holistic approach to discuss the parameters of the SDG India Index and highlight the importance of libraries to achieving SDGs. The paper also discusses the 17 SDGs and how they were adopted by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

 Findings: The government of India has collected data from different states and created guidelines in the form of an Index. The Ministry of Statistics created indicators based on UN’s SDG indicators to calculate the performance. There are no indicators created to collect data from libraries of India. The SDG India Index already exempts some goals in its first draft stating that insufficient data was available.

 Originality: This paper will also help include libraries in the National Indicator Framework, boost the SDG Index, and add new fields to collect SDG data.

 Practical Implication: If Indian Libraries could adequately adopt these indicators, then our country could contribute more to implementing these 17 goals and help achieve the 2030 agenda.