Paper Details

This study entitled “Kerala VS Himachal Pradesh: A comparative study on sustainable development through the SDG India Index”, examines the sustainable development progress of two socially advanced yet geographically distinct Indian states. Through a review of literature on state-level SDG performance, the study highlights regional variations arising from differences in geography, governance models, social development and economic structures. The research addresses key questions: How do Kerala and Himachal Pradesh compare across major Sustainable Development Goals {SDGs}? Which areas demand state – specific policy interventions? The hypotheses propose that while both states demonstrate strong social development outcomes, their strengths and limitations are shaped by unique historical, environmental, and economic contexts. Using a comparative research design and recent SDG India Index data across all 17 SDGs, the study evaluates performance indicators related to health, poverty alleviation, education, gender equality and climate action, etc… The finding reveals that Kerala excels in human development indicators such as health, education, and gender equality, whereas Himachal Pradesh shows strong performance in environmental sustainability, clean energy adoption, and climate resilience. Despite high overall SDG scores, both states face challenges such as ageing population, fiscal sustainability and climate vulnerability. This research contributes to the broader discourse on sub-national sustainability and offers insights for policy makers as India progresses toward achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Sustainable Development Goals {SDGs}, Human development, Environmental sustainability, State – level comparison, SDG India Index.