A Strategic Study on Localization of Sustainable Development Goals: A Social Justice–Oriented, Technology-Enabled Field Study from Rural India

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) present an integrated global framework for addressing poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, and institutional challenges. However, translating this global agenda into localized, actionable strategies remains a major challenge, particularly in rural and marginalized regions. This review synthesizes literature across socio-economic development, agriculture, digital inclusion, public health, gender equality, and governance to examine how SDG interlinkages can be operationalized at the grassroots level. Drawing from high-quality studies in Scopus-indexed journals, the paper identifies key thematic trends: interdependent development pathways, catalytic roles of education and gender equality, technology-enabled rural transformation, and decentralized governance. The review also highlights major research gaps, including limited field-based SDG localization studies, sectoral fragmentation, and the absence of social justice–oriented frameworks. The paper concludes by proposing an integrated, technology-enabled, and socially grounded research direction for SDG localization in rural contexts.