Localization of SDGs is at the core of India’s SDG implementation strategy. In the federal governance structure, the states play a pivotal role in designing, executing, and monitoring development policies and interventions. Therefore, State governments and Union Territories are the key drivers of the SDGs, while NITI Aayog and the central ministries in Government of India support them in this endeavor.

State governments and UTs are taking a range of initiatives to implement and localize the SDGs:

·       Preparing Vision Documents and action plans to guide their efforts on the SDGs;

·       Setting up the Implementation and coordination structures at different levels;

·       Mapping of all development Programmes implemented in the State on the SDGs and associated targets;

·       Identifying the State-specific indicators for monitoring of the SDGs;

·       Preparing capacity building resources and tools in local languages;

·       Aligning the State budgets with the SDGs.

NITI Aayog is supported by GGGI to prepare this compendium of early lessons in localization of SDGs in collaboration with States and UTs.  The compendium draws upon the experiences of 36 States and UTs and presents an analysis of various initiatives related to SDG localisation, such as, institutional mechanisms to facilitate whole-of-government approaches, SDG-oriented budgeting, capacity building and advocacy, data and analytics for progress monitoring and approaches to promote inclusion.

It is an opportune moment for the global development community and other stakeholders to note India’s efforts in localizing the SDGs and integrate the learnings in various SDG implementation plans. This document “Localising SDGs in India: Early Lessons from India” is offered as an input in that direction.