12. India’s Pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals in Trade

Global sustainability and human well-being are significantly impacted by international trade. According to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, international trade is acknowledged as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction, and a crucial tool for attaining the SDGs. The United Nations has embraced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) comprising 169 targets. As the world’s fastest-growing major economy, India is currently in a unique position to fulfil its commitments to inclusive and sustainable development. Internationally, the country has played a pivotal role in shaping the SDGs and maintaining equilibrium among their three pillars: economic, social, and environmental aspects. India has engaged in trade agreements with numerous nations, aiming to enhance its external trade. The Foreign Trade Policy of India consistently prioritizes significantly expanding the country’s global merchandise trade share. Consequently, the Government of India has been implementing various measures to boost trade with other nations, adopting policies and procedures that facilitate the increase of both exports and imports worldwide. In this paper, we will be discussing India’s pursuit to achieve sustainable development goals in trade, the current scenario, the measures taken by the Indian government to align its trade practices with sustainable development objectives, and the impacts of international trade on progress towards achieving the SDG targets, challenges, opportunities, future outlook, and suggestions.