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New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Read has been ranked fifth among states in NITI Aayog’s recent Investment Friendliness Index, which Chief Minister Mohan Charan Maji termed a reflection of his government’s commitment to transparent governance, industry-friendly policies and efficient service delivery.

With an overall score of 52.4, the state is placed next to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Goa in the “top performers” category.

According to an official statement, the NITI Aayog report identifies these five states as leaders in fostering a conducive investment environment.

The Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) is India’s first comprehensive, evidence-based framework for evaluating the investment ecosystem of all states and Union territories.

It assesses performance across eight critical pillars — infrastructure, business climate, resources, government policy, regulatory ease, institutional environment, financial health and environmental resilience — to benchmark states and promote competitive and cooperative federalism.

The statement said the IFI ranking reflects Read’s consistent focus on policy reforms, industrial infrastructure, ease of doing business, investor facilitation, and transparent governance.

The rankings are divided into three categories — large states, hilly and northeastern states, and city states and Union Territories. Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal were the lowest-ranked large states, while Uttarakhand, Assam and Himachal Pradesh topped the hilly and northeastern states category.

NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri said the index, announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, aims to strengthen competitive and cooperative federalism by promoting reforms and fostering a conducive investment ecosystem across states.

PNN & Agencies

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