By Middat Khan The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established by the United Nations in 2015, provide a global vision for achieving prosperity, equity and sustainability by 2030 Its goal is to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all, and to recognize the importance of economic development in reducing poverty and maintaining social stability. . In India, where the economy is diverse and dynamic, achieving SDG 8 is both a challenge and an opportunity.  Understanding SDG 8: Key Objectives and Targets SDG 8 has several key goals and objectives, including promoting sustainable economic growth, ensuring employment products and ensure fair employment for all. The specific goals and targets under SDG 8 are: Target 1: Sustainable Economic Growth Sustain per capita economic growth under national circumstances and aim for at least 7% GDP growth per annum in the least developed countries. Target 2: Diversify, Innovate, and Upgrade for Economic Productivity Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation, particularly in high value added and labour-intensive sectors. Target 3: Promote Policies to Support Job Creation and Growing Enterprises Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation. Encourage the formalization and growth of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises, including through access to financial services. Target 4: Improve Resource Efficiency in Consumption and Production Improve global resource efficiency in consumption and production, aiming to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation by 2030. Target 5: Full Employment and Decent Work with Equal Pay By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including equal pay for equal value work for both men and women. Target 6: Promote Youth Employment, Education, and Training By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training. Target 7: End Modern Slavery, Trafficking, and Child Labour Take immediate measures to eradicate forced labour, and modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour. Target 8: Protect Labour Rights and Promote Safe Working Environments Protect labour rights and promote safe working environments, particularly for migrant workers and those in precarious employment. Target 9: Promote Beneficial and Sustainable Tourism By 2030, implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that create jobs and promote local culture and products. Target 10: Universal Access to Banking, Insurance, and Financial Services Strengthen domestic financial institutions to expand access to banking, insurance, and financial services for all. Target 11: Increase Aid for Trade Support Increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, particularly least developed countries, to enhance trade-related technical help. Target 12: Develop a Global Youth Employment Strategy Develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization. India’s Progress and Challenges in Achieving SDG 8 India’s progress and challenges in achieving SDG 8 India, with its large population and complex economic landscape, faces unique challenges in achieving SDG 8. High levels of performance lawlessness, regional differences in economic growth and the need for skills development are some of the cases. Key Issues However, India has made significant progress through various policies and programs aimed at promoting decent work and sustainable economic growth. Policies and priorities in India support of SDG 8, it is increasing employment in various sectors. The aim of the program is to create a skilled workforce by providing short-term training, emphasis on prior learning (RPL) and specific programs to develop sectors. Key Policies and Programs in India Supporting SDG 8 1.Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) Launched: 2015 Status: Continuing Objective: From providing skill development training to the youth of India, raising their employability in various sectors. The program aims to create a skilled workforce by offering short-term training, recognition of prior learning (RPL), and special projects in developing sectors. Impact: As of 2023, PMKVY has trained over 13 million youth across the country in various skills. The scheme has seen an important push toward skill development in emerging sectors as digital technology, healthcare, and engineering. The placement rate for trained candidates stands at around 54%, showing the program’s effectiveness in enhancing employability. Start-Up India Initiative Launched: 2016 Status: Continuing Objective: To promote entrepreneurship and innovation by providing financial support, tax benefits, and to provide simpler rules for startups. The initiative aims to create jobs, promote economic growth, and encourage entrepreneurship across the country. Impact: The Start-Up India project has acknowledged over 100,000 startups since its inception. India has become the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. In 2022 alone, Indian startups raised around $42 billion in funding. The initiative has also led to the creation of approximately 6.5 lakh jobs directly within the startup ecosystem, according to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Make in India Reinvigorated: 2014, Status: Continuing with renewed focus Objective: To transform India into a global manufacturing hub by encouraging domestic and international companies to manufacture their products in India. The initiative focuses on creating jobs, enhancing skills, and supporting economic growth in sectors like electronics, textiles, and automobiles. Impact: The manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP has increased from 15.06% in 2014 to 17.4% in 2023. The initiative has attracted FDI inflows worth $286 billion from 2014 to 2022. Main sectors like electronics, textiles, and automobiles have seen significant growth, with India becoming the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer globally by 2022.   Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) Launched: 2020 Status: Continue Objective: In response to the economic challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative aims to make India self-reliant by boosting local production, reducing dependence on imports, and creating jobs. It includes various financial incentives for small and medium enterprises, workers and farmers to promote economic growth and employment. Impact: The Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative has been involved in increasing domestic production, particularly in sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and MSMEs. Under this initiative, over 10 million MSMEs have benefited from the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), leading to the restoration of small