NITI Aayog-JICA Cooperation on SDGs | 03 Mar 2026

Source: PIB

NITI Aayog and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Record of Discussions (RoD) for the "Project for Promotion of the Program for Japan-India Cooperative Actions Towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Phase II".

• Objective and Scope: The project aims to strengthen policy frameworks and implementation systems across six key themes, i.e., Global Partnership, Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure.
• Key Focus Areas: It focuses on institutional capacity building, improved monitoring and evaluation, and effective localisation of SDGs in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks.
• Activities: Key activities include people-to-people exchanges, capacity-building programs, Japan–India knowledge forums, and identification and dissemination of Best Practices.

India-Japan Development Partnership

• Historic Scale of Assistance: Japan has been India's largest bilateral donor since 1958, with cumulative Official Development Assistance (ODA) exceeding Rs 4.4 lakh crore, supporting over 84 ongoing projects in sectors like transportation, energy, and water.
• Guiding Framework for the Decade: The India-Japan Joint Vision for the Next Decade (August 2025) outlines 8 strategic directions for cooperation, including enhanced economic ties, technology partnerships, and clean energy initiatives.
  • Both countries set a new target of USD 68 billion in private investment from Japan to India over the next decade.
• Recent Financial Commitments: In March 2025, 6 loan agreements were signed under Japan's ODA, totalling Rs 11,181 crores to fund infrastructure and sustainable development projects.
• Strengthening Financial Stability: To enhance economic resilience, the Bilateral Swap Arrangement was renewed at USD 75 billion (effective February 2026).