NITI Aayog and UN sign Sustainable Development Framework

NITI Aayog and United Nations in India, signed a Sustainable Development Framework for 2018-2022.

• The agreement is a reflection of commitment and efforts made by India towards attaining Sustainable Development Goals.

About the India-UN Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF):

• UNSDF 2018-2022 outlines development of a cooperation strategy between Union Government and United Nations Country Team in India in support of achievement of India's key national development priorities and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• It was framed following a highly participative process, in consultation with government entities, civil society representatives, academia, and private sector. 
• Focus areas under it include poverty and urbanization, health, water, and sanitation, education, climate change, nutrition and food security, clean energy, and disaster resilience; skilling, entrepreneurship, job creation, gender equality and youth development.
• The total planned budget outlay for implementation of UNSDF is approximately Rs. 11000 crore, of which 47% is planned to be mobilized through course of implementation from multiple sources, including private sector and government.
• The programmatic work outlined in UNSDF targets seven low-income states viz. Bihar, Jharkhand, MP, Odisha, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and UP along with North-East region and aspirational districts identified by the NITI Aayog.
• It will work on improving lives of most marginalized, poor, and vulnerable communities and people in the country, especially women and girls.
• UNSDF also includes a set of UN flagship programs that are aligned with major government schemes.
• These flagship programs will be scalable and innovative multi-sectoral solutions to some of the most pressing development challenges that India faces and also serve as catalysts for increased investment of development finance.
• UNSDF programmes range from affordable housing for poor to increasing access to clean energy in rural off-grid areas, protecting all children from vaccine-preventable diseases, providing quality education for all children and skilling for young people, especially young girls and ending stunting to improving child sex ratio.

Question:

Q. Who has signed a Sustainable Development Framework for 2018-2022 with United Nations in India?
a. Planning Commission
b. NITI Aayogc. Urban Development Ministry
d. None of the above