Sikkim has emerged as one of the top performers in the North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2023-24, with all of its districts—Gangtok, Mangan, Namchi, Gyalshing, Pakyong, and Soreng—earning the 'Front Runner' title. According to the most recent rankings, this puts the state in an elite category with Mizoram and Tripura, the only three northeastern states to do so.
The index, which was released on July 7 by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the UNDP and the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (MoDoNER), assesses district-level advancements in 16 SDG themes, such as infrastructure, gender equality, health, education, and the environment.
Sikkim stands out for its steadiness as well as its high scores. The little difference between Gyalshing (71.14) and Gangtok (76.64), the district with the lowest score, indicates a balanced development model that is uncommon in the area. States like Mizoram, where the difference between the top and lowest districts is about 14 points, stand in stark contrast to the margin of only 5.5 points.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang's leadership, whose administration has prioritized inclusive and sustainable policies in line with both national and international SDG targets, is credited by officials with this performance. All districts have adopted healthcare, education, rural development, and environmental sustainability initiatives consistently, which has helped the state make steady progress.