India’s Performance on SDG 11

India’s ranking in the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025 has improved to 99th among 167 countries. However, urban sustainability in India continues to be a major challenge, especially under SDG 11, which focuses on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Understanding SDG 11 in India is crucial, as it directly relates to topics on urban governance, environmental management, and social inclusion.

Understanding SDG 11 India

SDG 11 India is part of the Sustainable Development Goals India framework, aiming to ensure sustainable cities and communities. It targets improvement in urban India by addressing critical issues like slum proliferation, air pollution, water availability, housing affordability, and public transport.

The goal is to create inclusive cities in India where all citizens, including the urban poor, have access to basic amenities and opportunities.

India’s Performance on SDG 11 India Indicators

SDG 11 India covers four major urban indicators:

• Slum population proportion – The percentage of urban residents living in slums has stagnated, reflecting persistent socio-economic inequalities. Inclusive urban planning for slums under SDG 11 in India remains a challenge.

• PM 2.5 pollution levels – Air pollution continues to affect city residents, especially in urban India, highlighting the need for stricter environmental regulations.

• Access to improved piped water – Only about 65% of urban households had access to improved piped water in 2022, pointing to issues in access to piped water and sanitation in Indian cities.

• Public transport availability – Adequate public transport infrastructure is limited, affecting mobility and urban resilience.

For example, Mumbai slums receive just 45 litres per capita per day of water, far below the government norm of 135 litres. Residents often pay up to thirty times more for water from tankers, showcasing the severe urban inequalities in India's sustainable urbanisation and highlighting why SDG 11 India progress remains slow.

Challenges of Achieving SDG 11 in India's Cities

Despite policy frameworks, the challenges of achieving SDG 11 in India remain significant:

• Living Conditions in Urban Slums: Nearly half of slum households live in inadequate, non-pucca homes. Poor housing, overcrowding, and a lack of amenities increase vulnerabilities.

• Environmental and Disaster Vulnerabilities: The Urban poor face high exposure to pollution and climate risks. Monsoon floods and landslides exacerbate these challenges, highlighting the importance of urban resilience and disaster management in India.

• Urban Governance and Financial Constraints: Urban development is largely a state subject, limiting city autonomy. Over half of municipal corporations cannot meet half their expenses from their own revenues, affecting urban governance in India and constraining SDG 11 India implementation.

Government Initiatives and Urban Development Programmes

Several schemes aim to improve urban sustainability in India:

• Smart Cities Mission: Focuses on modern infrastructure but often prioritizes larger cities over inclusive development. The role of Smart Cities Mission in achieving SDG 11 in India is significant but skewed toward commercial areas.

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U): Offers housing subsidies but faces inclusion challenges. Recent PMAY-U 2.0 efforts, including credit risk guarantees, aim to expand access to low-income groups.

• JNNURM and Other Schemes: Emphasize urban infrastructure, yet water, sanitation, and health projects form less than 20% of completed projects, slowing progress on SDG 11 in India.

Participation and Community Engagement

The 74th Constitutional Amendment mandates Ward Committees for local participation. However, most cities lack active committees, reducing citizen input. Without effective participation, urban plans may fail to be inclusive cities in India, reflecting only elite priorities and limiting SDG 11 India objectives.

Policy Recommendations for SDG 11 India

For meaningful progress in India's performance on SDG 11, sustainable cities and communities:

• Increase public investment to close urban service gaps.

• Enhance the financial autonomy of cities to improve accountability.

• Promote inclusive planning that incorporates local knowledge and participation.

• Regulate private financing to safeguard vulnerable groups.

• Focus on sustainable urban development policies in India to reduce inequalities and improve resilience.

Achieving SDG 11 in India is not just about statistics—it impacts the daily lives of millions in urban India, shaping the future of safe, inclusive, and sustainable cities.

Final Thoughts

India’s ranking in the Sustainable Development Report 2025 has improved to 99th out of 167 countries, but challenges under SDG 11 India—which focuses on building inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities—remain serious. Urban areas continue to struggle with issues like slum housing, poor water supply, air pollution, and limited public transport. For instance, while the government norm for water is 135 litres per person daily, slum residents in Mumbai often get only about 45 litres and pay much higher rates to private suppliers.

The challenges of achieving SDG 11 in Indian cities are not just about infrastructure but also governance, finances, and inclusivity. Many municipal bodies lack the resources to provide basic services, and community participation in planning remains weak. While programmes like the Smart Cities Mission and PMAY-U aim to improve housing and infrastructure, they often prioritize larger or wealthier areas over the needs of the urban poor.

To truly achieve sustainable cities and communities, India must focus on inclusive policies, strengthen local governance, ensure better water and housing access, and build resilience against climate risks. The progress of SDG 11 India is not only about statistics—it directly affects the everyday lives of millions living in urban India.