The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on 31 October 2025 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. The partnership envisions developing a Comprehensive SDG Alignment Framework that integrates National, State, ESG, and CSR indicators to advance the vision of Viksit Bharat.

At IICA, the collaboration is being led under the dynamic leadership of Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General and CEO, who has spearheaded strategic initiatives in ESG, CSR, and Responsible Business Conduct, aligning them with India’s broader development agenda.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by senior officials, including Shri Kishor Baburao Surwade, Additional Director General, Capacity Development Division, MoSPI; Dr Garima Dadhich, Associate Professor and Head, School of Business Environment, IICA; Ms Ruchika Gupta, Deputy Director General, Social Statistics Division, MoSPI; Shri Shivnath Singh Jadawat, Director, Training Unit, Capacity Development Division, MoSPI; and Dr Ziaul Haque, Director, Social Statistics Division, MoSPI, along with other dignitaries from both institutions.

The National Indicator Framework (NIF), which forms the cornerstone for monitoring India’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will serve as the foundation of this collaboration. Building upon the NIF, the initiative aims to create a framework that aligns state-level indicators with national priorities while integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) dimensions.

This harmonised framework will bridge national, state, and corporate sustainability ecosystems, ensuring that business-led CSR and ESG initiatives are effectively aligned with State and Union Territory SDG objectives. By aligning the NIF and State Indicator Framework (SIF), the collaboration will strengthen evidence-based policymaking, foster sustainable corporate participation, and drive cohesive and inclusive SDG implementation.

Through this joint effort, MoSPI and IICA aim to establish a unified model for sustainability measurement and reporting, advancing India’s pursuit of Viksit Bharat and reinforcing the country’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.