Authors:

Neha N Karnik

Abstract:

This paper assesses and contrasts the developments of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) realization in India and South Africa between 2000 and 2023 by relying on the information of the United Nations Sustainable Development Global Database (2024). The comparison considers the trends of developments of both countries on all 17 SDGs, finds areas of relative strengths and weaknesses, and discusses opportunities in the learning process of both countries to strengthen SDGs. The results have shown that India has made a great breakthrough in SDG1 (No Poverty), SDG3 (Good Health and Well-Being), and SDG4 (Quality Education), but South Africa shows a better performance in SDG5 (Gender Equality) and SDG9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). In India, there is a consistent progress on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 9, but a system of regional and social inequalities remains a major issue. South Africa is doing better in SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which are indicative of relatively better environmental governance and international cooperation systems. This paper highlights the possibility of cross-country learning where India could learn South Africa institutionalized ways of supporting gender equality and environmental management and South Africa could learn some aspects of Indian ways of dealing with poverty, health care and education. To be able to speed up the process of achieving the 2030 Agenda and to make the development in both countries more inclusive and sustainable, enhanced bilateral cooperation, coordinated knowledge-sharing arrangements, and, crucially, SDG-specific policy interventions are, therefore, necessary.Top of Form

 

Keywords:

India–South Africa Comparison; SDG Indicators; Inclusive Development; Environmental Governance; Poverty Reduction; Gender Equality; South–South Cooperation

Vol & Issue:

VOL.17, ISSUE No.4, December 2025