According to the Report released by NITI Aayog in December 2019 on 'Sustainable Development Goals India Index 2019-20', the Uttar Pradesh is grouped under which of the following categories?
- (a)Aspirant
- (b)Performer
- (c)Front runner
- (d)Achiever
Correct — B, Performer. In NITI Aayog's SDG India Index 2019-20 (released on 30 December 2019), states and UTs were placed in four bands by composite score: Aspirant (0-49), Performer (50-64), Front Runner (65-99) and Achiever (100). Uttar Pradesh scored 55, which falls in the 50-64 band, so it was classified as a 'Performer' — an improvement over its 'Aspirant' status in the 2018 edition. Hence the answer is (b).
- (a)Aspirant — 'Aspirant' is the 0-49 band. Uttar Pradesh had been an Aspirant in the first (2018) index with a score around 42, but it rose to 'Performer' (score 55) in the 2019-20 index — so Aspirant is its earlier status, not the 2019-20 one.
- (c)Front runner — 'Front Runner' is the 65-99 band. Uttar Pradesh's score of 55 is well below 65, so it does not qualify as a Front Runner.
- (d)Achiever — 'Achiever' is reserved for a perfect composite score of 100. No state or UT reached that level, so this category does not apply to Uttar Pradesh.
The SDG India Index, published by NITI Aayog, tracks how far each state and UT has progressed on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The 2019-20 edition (second edition; first was 2018) was released on 30 December 2019. States are ranked on a composite score of 0-100 and sorted into four bands: Aspirant (0-49), Performer (50-64), Front Runner (65-99) and Achiever (100). Uttar Pradesh scored 55, placing it in the 'Performer' band.
The four band names are the trap — the distractors are simply the adjacent categories. Fix the band boundaries (Aspirant <50, Performer 50-64, Front Runner 65-99, Achiever = 100) and place UP's score of 55, which lands squarely in 'Performer'. 'Aspirant' is a tempting distractor because it was UP's category in the earlier 2018 index.
- SDG India Index 2019-20 released by NITI Aayog on 30 December 2019 (second edition)
- Bands: Aspirant 0-49, Performer 50-64, Front Runner 65-99, Achiever 100
- Uttar Pradesh scored 55 → 'Performer' (up from 'Aspirant', ~42, in 2018)
- Kerala topped the 2019-20 index; the country's overall SDG score improved to 60
Uttar Pradesh scored 55, which falls in the 50-64 band → 'Performer' (option b).
- Confusing UP's 2018 category (Aspirant) with its 2019-20 category (Performer)
- Mixing up the domestic SDG India Index (NITI Aayog) with the international SDG Index (SDSN/UN)
UPPSC/UPSC ask which body releases the index, which band a state falls in, or the score ranges of the four bands — anchor the four band names in order and the score cut-offs.
Consider the following statements: 1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the 'Club of Rome'. 2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer(b) 2 only — the 17 SDGs were adopted by the UN in 2015 (not proposed by the Club of Rome in 1972) and are to be achieved by 2030.
Same theme — the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which this UPPSC question tracks at the state level. It fixes the 2030 Agenda that the SDG India Index measures progress against.
The Government of India has established NITI Aayog to replace the
- (a) Human Rights Commission
- (b) Finance Commission
- (c) Law Commission
- (d) Planning Commission
Answer(d) Planning Commission — NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission with effect from 1 January 2015.
Related concept — NITI Aayog, the very body that compiles and releases the SDG India Index referred to in this question.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which body releases the 'SDG India Index'?
- (a)Ministry of Statistics
- (b)NITI Aayog
- (c)Finance Commission
- (d)UN Development Programme
Answer(b) NITI Aayog — it publishes the SDG India Index (in partnership with UN agencies).
- practice — not a real PYQ
In the SDG India Index, a state with a composite score between 65 and 99 is classified as:
- (a)Aspirant
- (b)Performer
- (c)Front Runner
- (d)Achiever
Answer(c) Front Runner — the 65-99 band; a score of 100 would make it an 'Achiever'.