Patna: The state needs stronger inter-departmental coordination, wider use of data and greater investment in human development to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), speakers said at the Bihar SDG Conclave 2026 on Thursday. The theme of the conclave’s opening day was “Accelerating SDGs through Human Development and Social Transformation in Bihar”.The two-day conclave, organised by the planning and development department in collaboration with Unicef, brought together senior officials, policymakers and representatives of NITI Aayog, MoSPI, the UN and development partners.Industries and sports minister Shreyasi Singh said every Bihari should share the goal of taking the state forward. “Only then can the vision of a developed Bihar through sustainable development be realised,” she said, stressing the need to align economic growth with improvements in education, health, nutrition, livelihoods and gender equality.Development commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh said Bihar had witnessed significant transformation over the past two decades, citing improvements in rural roads, electricity supply and transport infrastructure. He said the state must now focus on strengthening higher education, skill development, employment generation, industrial growth and data systems.Planning and development department additional chief secretary N Vijayalakshmi said district administrations, particularly district magistrates and deputy development commissioners, have a crucial role in achieving SDG targets. She said Bihar’s overall SDG score had risen from 48 in 2018-19 to 57, with progress recorded in 11 goals.The state is currently in the frontrunner category in six SDGs, including health, sanitation, clean energy and strong institutions. Bihar scored 98 in SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation.Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister member Shamika Ravi said a developed India was not possible without a developed Bihar and called for development policies based on reliable data and ground-level evidence.The first day featured sessions on industrialisation, human development, data systems and district-level implementation of SDGs. Discussions on the second day will focus on human development, social transformation, economic growth and district-level development.Key themes will include employment, urbanisation, infrastructure, skilled workforce, industrialisation, clean energy, community-based livelihoods, and the role of emerging technologies and AI in strengthening decentralised governance.
