This study critically evaluates India's progress toward SDG 9 over the decade 2014–2024, with a focus on fostering resilient infrastructure, inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and innovation capacity. Using secondary data from national indices, policy documents, and academic sources, the research analyzes trends across key indicators—such as rural road connectivity, manufacturing value added, and state-level innovation performance. The findings reveal significant disparities: while states like Karnataka, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu lead in infrastructure readiness and innovation, others such as Bihar, Jharkhand, and Assam lag behind, constrained by structural deficits in access, investment, and institutional capacity.
The study further examines the impact of flagship programs like Make in India, Startup India, Digital India, and the National Infrastructure Pipeline, highlighting their uneven reach and regional concentration. Cross-SDG linkages are explored, particularly with SDGs 4, 8, and 11, emphasizing the systemic nature of inclusive industrial development. Ultimately, the paper argues that achieving SDG 9’s objectives requires decentralized policy interventions, state-specific planning, and a strong focus on equity and regional inclusion. Without these, national progress risks masking deep-seated subnational disparities that could undermine long-term development goals.