New Delhi, Jul 17: Odisha, along with Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Goa, has been recognised as one of India’s most investor‑friendly states in the “Investment Friendliness Index (IFI)” released by NITI Aayog on Friday.

The index, announced in the 2025‑26 Union Budget, is intended to promote competitive and cooperative federalism by encouraging reforms and strengthening investment ecosystems across states.

The IFI assessed all 28 states and eight Union Territories, including Jammu & Kashmir, on parameters such as infrastructure, business climate, resources, government policy, regulatory ease, institutional environment, financial health and environmental resilience. Based on overall scores, states were classified into four categories: “Top Performers” (above 50), “Frontrunners” (45–50), “Emerging Performers” (40–45) and “Aspiring States” (below 40).

Among large states, Gujarat secured the first rank, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Goa topped the City States category, while Odisha joined the top five overall performers. In the Hilly and North‑Eastern group, Uttarakhand led, followed by Assam and Himachal Pradesh. Delhi and Chandigarh also featured prominently among City States.
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The report emphasises that while national‑level reforms provide overarching policy direction, state governments play a decisive role in shaping the investment climate through infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, effective institutions and predictable policy regimes. Strengthening these ecosystems is considered vital for enhancing India’s competitiveness, attracting greater investment and sustaining high growth.

By benchmarking states and encouraging adoption of best practices, the IFI seeks to foster competitive and cooperative federalism in pursuit of the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision. NITI Aayog underlined that continuous reforms at the state level will be critical to sustaining India’s growth trajectory and positioning the country as a global investment hub.