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Existing models of competitive federalism in India purely of relevance to State and are completely decentralised
addressing the needs of different States and sub-State levels, as
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index determined by States. The overall guiding light is the SDGs and

The United Nations has determined that in order to track the National Targets and relevant National Indicators.
progress of the Sustainable Development Goals and the
accompanying targets, there should be 17 SDGs, with 169 LIF and PDI – strengthening PRIs
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global targets, and a set of 231 different global indicators. The Devolution is a matter also of State Policy as per the 73
MoSPI developed the NIF in 2018 consisting of 306 national Constitutional Amendment. Barring couple of States – Kerala,
indictors along with identified data sources and periodicity West Bengal and Karnataka, that stand out, the empowerment
following due consultation with concerned Ministries/ of PRIs has been at varying levels limited. Mostly they are
Departments, UN Agencies and other stakeholders. MoSPI performing Agency functions and providing basic services,
periodically review and refine the NIF in consultation with the within the funds devolved to them from Central and State
line Ministries/Dept. At present, NIF (version 2022) consists of Finance Commissions, of which some funds never reach them,
286 indicators out of which data is available on 268 indicators. and get adjusted at State level for dues, or common works
NITI Aayog compiles the SDG India Index on the basis of contracts payments, and a substantial portion is tied funds,
indicators mainly drawn from NIF to track progress of all States including 60% of CFC grant for water and sanitation.
and UTs. The latest SDG India Index 2020–21 is based on 115 Guidelines of Schemes notwithstanding, the involvement of
indicators. The NIF is the backbone of monitoring the PRIs in the planning processes in the Schemes, and informing
Sustainable Development Goals at the level of the country and them to enable them to prepare their GPDP has been more
will give appropriate direction to the policy makers and the absent than present. Working within these realities, there has
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implementers of the various schemes and programmes. It also been the efforts taken by the MoPR to enable the 3 tier of
gives inter-State performance and status on these parameters as government to move towards enabling them to discharge its
identified in the NIF. As a result, the SDG India Index was able responsibilities under the 29 devolved subjects, and perform the
to help score the States and UTs on how well they were doing functions for socio-economic development, through various
in attaining the SDG targets. This highlighted the enormous policy and programmatic initiatives, including the very
discrepancies that exist between the States and emphasised how important and relevant GPDP – Gram Panchayat Development

important it is to take a more localised approach. Plan.
In accordance with the National Indicator Framework (NIF), the
states have devised the State Indicator Framework (SIF), which Guidelines of Schemes notwithstanding, the
involvement of PRIs in the planning processes in
incorporates not only the national targets and indicators but also
the Schemes by the departments in the field, and
those that are of specific significance to the states. Some states
informing them to enable them to prepare their
have also prepared District Indicator Frameworks (DIF)
GPDP has been more absent than present.
applicable at the district level, as well as the Target and
Indicators as flowing from the SIF, but as applicable at District Though there is reservation for women in the PRIs and in many
level, for which NITI Aayog and MoSPI are guiding the States at GP level even 50 %, the connect of the SHG
preparation of SIF and DIF in States. The creation of the Block movement to PRIs, is an area that has drawn interest from time
Indicator Framework (BIF), which provides an overview of the to time, but yet to be concretely monitored and leveraged in
state of affairs regarding the Sustainable Development Goal empowering women and Panchayats. It is expected that in the
(SDG) Indicator Framework as it relates to the Block, has just Revamped RGSA 2022, and with the LSDG framework, there
been started by the states. The levels of SIF, DIF and BIF are

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PDI Committee Report - 2023: Policy Efforts by MoPR to strengthen PRIs 16