Sustainable Development in India: Institutional Architecture, Sectoral Pathways, and Equity-Centered Transitions

Abstract

Sustainable development has moved to the core of India’s policy agenda, reflecting the need to reconcile rapid economic expansion with environmental stewardship and social inclusion. This article refines and synthesizes India’s sustainability trajectory across interlinked domains—governance frameworks, poverty reduction, energy transition, urban air quality and mobility, water security, food systems and forests, human development, and financing—while foregrounding the trade-offs that shape outcomes. Anchored in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), India’s approach integrates national instruments such as the SDG India Index, the National Clean Air Programme, the Jal Jeevan Mission, and a growing portfolio of green-industrial policies, including the National Green Hydrogen Mission. We review progress on multidimensional poverty reduction, the scaling of non-fossil electricity, sanitation and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) systems, and forest and landscape restoration, alongside persistent challenges: sub-national capacity gaps, asset functionality and service quality, grid and storage bottlenecks, and the health burden of pollution. The paper argues that achieving the 2030 agenda requires a decisive shift from asset creation to lifecycle service delivery; accelerated transmission, storage, and market reforms to integrate renewables; stronger, outcomes-linked intergovernmental fiscal incentives; and adaptive social protection to buffer climate shocks. By consolidating evidence across sectors and levels of government, the study outlines a realistic pathway that aligns growth, equity, and ecological resilience, positioning India to translate policy ambition into durable systems change.