Ajishnu Roy 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are used to assess progress in the fields of the environment, economy, and society. Although assessments conducted at national and international levels are popular, subnational research, especially on India, is less common. Using 84 accessible indicators (2021–2022), a comprehensive study of 15 SDGs was conducted across 103 districts in eight states in the northeastern region (NER) of India. Pearson’s correlation, hierarchical clustering, network analysis, input-oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA), inequality (using the Theil and Atkinson indices), and relative SDG scoring were performed using ‘R’. Four SDG groupings (environmental, social, economic, and socioeconomic) and individual SDGs at the overall, district, and state levels were analysed. The results showed that the SDGs were asynchronous and had significant inequalities among the NER districts, with SDG 13 showing the highest disparity and SDG 2 the lowest. Many districts performed worse socioeconomically, even when they had higher environmental scores. This study provided the first comprehensive multi-dimensional assessment of SDG progress across Northeast India at the district level, revealing critical disparities and complex interactions between environmental and socioeconomic goals. Finally, limitations in mitigating the drawbacks of the NER SDG framework were discussed, coupled with policy suggestions for environmental, societal, and economic aspects. The findings offered valuable insights for policymakers in designing targeted interventions, promoting balanced development, and addressing regional inequalities to achieve sustainable development in this ecologically sensitive and socioeconomically diverse region.