The Spending Challenge of Achieving the SDGs in South Asia: Lessons from India

IMF Working Papers, December 17, 2021

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Canonical URL: The Spending Challenge of Achieving the SDGs in South Asia: Lessons from India

Authors: Mercedes Garcia-Escribano, Tewodaj Mogues, Marian Moszoro, Mauricio Soto
Published: December 17, 2021
Series: IMF Working Papers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781616355654.001

Authors: Mercedes Garcia-Escribano, Tewodaj Mogues, Marian Moszoro, Mauricio Soto
Publication date: December 17, 2021
Series: IMF Working Papers, Working Paper No. 2021/294
Purpose: Assess medium-term development challenges for South Asia, with a focus on India, to make substantial progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Core focus areas (SDG sectors): Human capital — health and education; Physical capital — water and sanitation, electricity, and roads.
Main approach: Estimate additional spending needs in the five critical sectors and document India’s progress relative to other South Asian countries; discuss implications for policy and reform.

Time horizon: medium-term effort to ensure substantial progress by 2030.
Sectors analyzed for additional spending needs:
- Health
- Education
- Water and sanitation
- Electricity
- Roads
Comparative emphasis: India’s recent progress in human and physical capital is documented and compared to other South Asian countries to derive lessons and implications.
Principal analytic outcome: Quantified estimates of additional spending needed in the five sectors to achieve SDG-related targets (note: detailed numeric estimates are contained in the full paper).

Strengthen spending in prioritized SDG sectors (health, education, water and sanitation, electricity, roads) to close gaps by 2030.
Use India’s sectoral progress and policy experience as lessons for the broader South Asia region.
Align fiscal planning and public investment with SDG sector priorities over the medium term.
Address both human capital and physical capital needs as complementary elements of development strategy.

Subjects: Commodities, Development, Electricity, Health, Population and demographics, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Keywords: Electricity; health outcome; Human Capital; India; Infrastructure; physical capital; SDG sector; South Asia; spending challenge; spending estimation; Sustainable Development Goals (SDG); Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)