1. Conceptual Foundation

Meaning and Purpose

State-Level Rankings and Surveys are standardized performance-evaluation frameworks designed by Central Ministries, Union Think-Tanks (NITI Aayog), and statutory regulators to assess and rank Indian States and Union Territories (UTs). Their core purpose is three-fold:

1. Promoting Competitive and Cooperative Federalism: Incentivizing State Governments to compete positively by reforming administrative procedures, eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks, and modernizing state infrastructure.
2. Granular Diagnostic Assessment: Moving beyond national macro-aggregates to identify state-specific and district-level operational bottlenecks in logistics, mineral exploration, export readiness, and industrial investment.
3. Evidence-Based Investor Guidance: Providing private investors, multilateral funding agencies, and corporate entities with objective, data-driven benchmarks on the ease of doing business, logistics reliability, and resource readiness across different regions.

Importance

In competitive examinations (TGPSC / UPSC / State Exams), Unit 15.4 is a high-yielding, recurrent module. Examination questions regularly evaluate:

1. Publishing Authority Mapping: Linking specific indices to their nodal Union Ministries or think-tanks (e.g., State Mining Readiness Index -> Ministry of Mines; LEADS -> DPIIT; Export Preparedness Index -> NITI Aayog; State Food Safety Index -> FSSAI).
2. Pillars, Indicators & Methodology: Deconstructing index frameworks (e.g., LEADS 3 pillars using both objective data and stakeholder perception; SMRI 4 criteria evaluating non-coal mineral blocks).
3. Categorization & Performance Slabs: Grouping rules based on geography or resource endowment (e.g., SMRI Categories A, B, C; LEADS Coastal, Landlocked, North-East, and UT groups; Performance tiers: Achievers, Fast Movers, Aspirers).
4. Top-Performing States: Memorizing leading States across specific indices (e.g., Madhya Pradesh leading SMRI Category A; Delhi leading IEMI; Tamil Nadu leading EPI; Telangana categorized as an "Achiever" in Landlocked LEADS).

How Concepts Connect

1. National Policy Vision to State-Level Reform Execution: Central initiatives like PM Gati Shakti and the National Logistics Policy (NLP) set national logistics targets -> DPIIT's LEADS Report evaluates state-level logistics infrastructure and regulatory compliance -> States reform transport corridors to improve their LEADS tier from Aspirer to Achiever.
2. Mineral Resource Endowment to Industrial Supply Chains: The Union Government promotes critical mineral supply security -> Ministry of Mines launches the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) -> States accelerate transparent mineral block auctions and early mine operationalization -> Secures raw material inputs for manufacturing under Make in India and the PLI Scheme.
3. Sub-National Data Gathering to Target Welfare Delivery: NITI Aayog tracks multidimensional poverty and EV adoption -> States develop targeted sub-national indices (e.g., Uttar Pradesh's District Women's Economic Empowerment Index) -> Enables data-driven policy corrections at the district and panchayat levels.

                    STATE-LEVEL RANKINGS & SURVEYS ARCHITECTURE
                                         |
     +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
     |                                                                       |
MINERAL & LOGISTICS RESOURCES                                INDUSTRIAL, EXPORT & SECTORAL BENCHMARKS
     |                                                                       |
     +---> State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI)                               +---> Export & Business Reform Indices
     |      |---> Published by Ministry of Mines                             |      |---> Export Preparedness Index (EPI - NITI Aayog)
     |      |---> Focuses on Non-Coal Minerals                               |      |---> Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP - DPIIT)
     |      |---> 4 Criteria: Auctions, Operationalization,                  |      |---> Manufacturing & Infrastructure Index (NITI Aayog)
     |            Exploration, Sustainability                                |
     |      |---> Slabs: Category A (Mineral-Rich),                          +---> Clean Energy & Mobility Benchmarks
     |            Category B (Moderate), Category C (Low)                   |      |---> India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI - NITI Aayog)
     |                                                                       |---> State Energy & Climate Index (SECI - NITI Aayog)
     +---> Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS)                    |
            |---> Published annually by DPIIT (Ministry of Commerce)         +---> Sectoral & District Governance Surveys
            |---> 3 Pillars: Infrastructure, Services, Operating             |---> State Food Safety Index (SFSI - FSSAI)
            |---> 4 Groups: Coastal, Landlocked, North-East, UTs             |---> District Women's Economic Empowerment Index (UP Govt)
            |---> 3 Tiers: Achievers, Fast Movers, Aspirers                  |---> Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS 3.0 - DPIIT)

Key Terms

1. State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI): A performance benchmarking framework released by the Ministry of Mines to rank Indian States on their reform readiness, auction efficiency, and sustainability in non-coal mineral mining.
2. LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States): An annual data-driven assessment report published by DPIIT evaluating the efficiency of logistics infrastructure, services, and regulatory environments across 36 States and UTs.
3. Export Preparedness Index (EPI): A comprehensive index released by NITI Aayog assessing the export readiness, policy framework, business environment, and export performance of Indian States.
4. Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP): DPIIT's flagship state-level Ease of Doing Business assessment framework that ranks States based on their implementation of specific regulatory reform action points.
5. India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI): India's first composite tool created by NITI Aayog to evaluate the maturity of electric vehicle (EV) ecosystems across States and UTs across 3 key pillars.
6. Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS): An assessment framework developed by DPIIT (supported by ADB) to rate industrial parks and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across India on infrastructure and governance.
7. Category A States (in SMRI): States categorized as having high mineral endowments (e.g., Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha).
8. Achievers Tier: The highest performance category in indices like LEADS and BRAP, representing States with mature policy environments and high operational efficiency.
9. Fast Movers Tier: The intermediate performance category representing States taking rapid progressive steps toward achieving optimal reform implementation.
10. Aspirers Tier: The baseline performance category identifying States in the early or developing stages of policy implementation and infrastructure creation.

Short Timeline of State Ranking Frameworks

1. 2015: DPIIT (in partnership with the World Bank) introduces the State Ease of Doing Business Rankings under the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP).
2. 2018: DPIIT launches the inaugural LEADS Report for state logistics benchmarking; NITI Aayog launches the SDG India Index.
3. 2019: DPIIT rolls out the Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS 1.0).
4. 2020: NITI Aayog releases the first edition of the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) and the India Innovation Index.
5. 2021: NITI Aayog releases the inaugural National Multidimensional Poverty Index (NMPI) baseline report.
6. 2022: NITI Aayog releases the State Energy and Climate Index (SECI).
7. 2024–2025:
   • Ministry of Mines launches the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI).
   • NITI Aayog introduces the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) and the Manufacturing & Infrastructure Index.
   • Uttar Pradesh introduces India's first district-level Women's Economic Empowerment Index.
   • DPIIT rolls out IPRS 3.0 and LEADS 2025.

2. Complete Core Notes

A. State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI)

1. Publishing Body & Core Vision

1. Issuing Nodal Body: Released by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
2. Core Vision: Benchmarks and evaluates Indian States on their efficiency, reform readiness, transparency, and sustainability in the mining sector, specifically focusing on non-coal minerals (such as iron ore, bauxite, limestone, manganese, and critical/strategic minerals).
3. Objective: Drives competitive federalism among state mining departments, enhances auction transparency, speeds up mine operationalization, and promotes sustainable resource extraction aligned with national economic and clean energy priorities.

2. Evaluation Criteria (4 Key Pillars)

1. Auction Performance: Measures the speed, transparency, and success rate of non-coal mineral block auctions.
2. Early Mine Operationalisation: Tracks the efficiency and speed of converting successfully auctioned mineral blocks into fully functional, operational mines (obtaining statutory clearances like forest/environmental approvals).
3. Exploration Thrust: Evaluates state-level capital outlay, technical initiatives, and geological surveys aimed at discovering new mineral reserves (particularly critical and deep-seated minerals).
4. Sustainable Mining Practices: Assesses the adoption of environmentally sound mining models, scientific mine closure plans, community welfare initiatives (via District Mineral Foundations - DMF), and mine safety protocols.

3. Categorization & Performance Rankings (2025 Edition)

States are classified into 3 categories based on mineral endowment to ensure fair comparison between geologically rich and low-resource States:

1. Category A: Mineral-Rich States:
   • 1st Rank: Madhya Pradesh
   • 2nd Rank: Rajasthan
   • 3rd Rank: Gujarat
2. Category B: Moderately Endowed States:
   • 1st Rank: Goa
   • 2nd Rank: Uttar Pradesh
   • 3rd Rank: Assam
3. Category C: Low Endowment States:
   • 1st Rank: Punjab
   • 2nd Rank: Uttarakhand
   • 3rd Rank: Tripura

B. LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) Report & Survey

1. Publishing Agency & Methodology

1. Issuing Body: Published annually by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (conceived in 2018 on the lines of the World Bank's global LPI).
2. Hybrid Methodology: Unlike the global World Bank LPI (which relies entirely on perception surveys), LEADS incorporates both:
   • Perception Data: Feedback gathered from over 10,000 industry stakeholders (exporters, importers, logistics service providers, transporters).
   • Objective Data: Verified quantitative data provided by State and UT administration authorities regarding infrastructure length, processing times, and digital systems.

2. Three Key Evaluation Pillars

1. Logistics Infrastructure: Evaluates the physical adequacy of roads, rail networks, warehousing, cold chains, ICDs (Inland Container Depots), and port connectivity.
2. Logistics Services: Measures the availability, reliability, quality, and affordability of transport services, freight forwarders, and skilled logistics manpower.
3. Operating & Regulatory Environment: Assesses state-level clearance speed, digital portal integration (ULIP/e-Logs compliance), track-and-trace facilities, and grievance redressal efficiency.

3. Geographical Grouping & Performance Tiers (LEADS Framework)

States and UTs are divided into 4 Geographical Groups and categorized across 3 Performance Tiers:

1. Four Geographical Groups:

   • Coastal States
   • Landlocked States
   • North-Eastern States
   • Union Territories

2. Three Performance Tiers:

   • Achievers Tier: States achieving benchmark logistics scores >= 90%.
     • Coastal Achievers: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.
     • Landlocked Achievers: Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh.
     • North-East Achievers: Assam, Sikkim, Tripura.
     • UT Achievers: Chandigarh, Delhi.
   • Fast Movers Tier: States making rapid progressive improvements (75% to 89% score). Includes Kerala, Maharashtra (Coastal); Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand (Landlocked); Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland (North-East); Puducherry, A&N Islands (UTs).
   • Aspirers Tier: States in the initial development phase (score < 75%). Includes Goa, Odisha, West Bengal (Coastal); Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand (Landlocked).

C. Export Preparedness Index (EPI) & State Business Reforms (BRAP)

1. Export Preparedness Index (EPI - NITI Aayog)

1. Issuing Agency: Released by NITI Aayog in partnership with the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC).
2. Four Core Pillars:
   • Policy Pillar: State export policy, trade strategy, and institutional setup.
   • Business Ecosystem: Quality of business infrastructure, transport connectivity, and access to finance.
   • Export Ecosystem: Export-focused infrastructure, trade promotion centers, and R&D facilities.
   • Export Performance: Export growth rates, commodity diversification, and GVC integration.
3. Leading States: Tamil Nadu ranked 1st overall in recent editions, closely followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat. Among landlocked states, Haryana and Telangana perform strongly.

2. Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP / Ease of Doing Business State Rankings)

1. Issuing Agency: Released by DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
2. Core Function: Evaluates states on the implementation of business reform action points (single-window clearances, labor law flexibilities, land administration, commercial dispute resolution, tax simplifications).
3. Categorization Tiers: Discontinued numerical ranking numbers to avoid hyper-competition on minor fractional scores; categorizes States into Top Achievers, Achievers, Fast Movers, and Aspirers. States like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana routinely secure Top Achiever status.

D. Clean Energy, Mobility & Sectoral State Benchmarks

1. India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI - NITI Aayog)

1. Nodal Body: Launched by NITI Aayog as a first-of-its-kind tool to benchmark state-level EV adoption.
2. Three Thematic Pillars (16 Indicators):
   • Electrification Pillar: EV penetration rates across 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, 4-wheelers, and commercial fleets.
   • Charging Readiness Pillar: Density of public charging stations, land allocation policies, and EV tariff structures.
   • Innovation Pillar: State EV manufacturing incentives, R&D outlays, and startup incubation.
3. Top Rankers: Delhi ranked highest overall, followed by Maharashtra and Chandigarh. Chandigarh led among small states/UTs.

2. State Food Safety Index (SFSI - FSSAI)

1. Issuing Agency: Published annually on World Food Safety Day (June 7) by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
2. Five Evaluated Parameters: Human Resources & Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing Infrastructure & Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building, Consumer Empowerment.
3. Top States: Kerala ranked 1st among large states, followed by Punjab and Tamil Nadu; Goa ranked 1st among small states.

3. District Women's Economic Empowerment Index (UP Government - 2025)

1. Pioneering State: Uttar Pradesh became the first State in India to introduce a district-level Women's Economic Empowerment Index evaluating all 75 districts.
2. Scope: Uses 49 indicators across 5 segments: Employment, Education & Skilling, Entrepreneurship, Livelihood & Mobility, and Safety with Inclusive Infrastructure.

4. Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS 3.0 - DPIIT)

1. Issuing Agency: Developed by DPIIT with technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
2. Purpose: Rates industrial parks, economic zones, and SEZs across 4 pillars: Internal Infrastructure, External Infrastructure, Business Support Services, and Environmental & Safety Management. Categorizes parks into Leaders, Challengers, and Aspirers.

E. Plain-Text Formulas & Classification Rules

1. LEADS Composite Score Concept: LEADS Score = Weighted Average of Stakeholder Perception Score (60%) + Objective Data Score (40%)

2. SMRI Endowment Grouping Rule: States Classified into Group A (High Mineral), Group B (Moderate Mineral), Group C (Low Mineral)

3. Export Preparedness Index Score: EPI Score = Policy Pillar (20%) + Business Ecosystem (40%) + Export Ecosystem (20%) + Export Performance (20%)

3. Key Concepts & Distinctions

Table 1: Key State-Level Benchmark Frameworks Comparison

Table 2: LEADS (Domestic Logistics) vs. Global LPI (World Bank)

Table 3: SMRI Top Performing States by Mineral Endowment Category (2025)

4. Important One-Liners

1. The State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) is published by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
2. SMRI evaluates state performance specifically in the non-coal mineral sector.
3. SMRI assesses States across 4 key indicators: Auction Performance, Early Mine Operationalisation, Exploration Thrust, and Sustainable Mining Practices.
4. In SMRI 2025, Madhya Pradesh ranked 1st among Category A (Mineral-Rich) States.
5. In SMRI 2025, Goa ranked 1st among Category B (Moderate Resources) States, and Punjab ranked 1st among Category C States.
6. The LEADS Report (Logistics Ease Across Different States) is published annually by DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
7. LEADS was first launched in 2018, modeled on the World Bank's global Logistics Performance Index (LPI).
8. LEADS uses a hybrid methodology combining perception surveys from industry stakeholders and objective state data.
9. LEADS evaluates 3 core pillars: Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services, and Operating/Regulatory Environment.
10. Under the Landlocked category of LEADS, Telangana, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh are categorized as Achievers.
11. Under the Coastal category of LEADS, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are categorized as Achievers.
12. The Export Preparedness Index (EPI) is published by NITI Aayog in partnership with the Institute for Competitiveness.
13. EPI evaluates state export readiness across 4 pillars: Policy, Business Ecosystem, Export Ecosystem, and Export Performance.
14. Tamil Nadu ranked 1st overall in recent editions of NITI Aayog's Export Preparedness Index.
15. State Ease of Doing Business rankings are published by DPIIT under the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP).
16. BRAP categorizes States into Top Achievers, Achievers, Fast Movers, and Aspirers rather than assigning single fractional rank numbers.
17. The India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) was launched by NITI Aayog to benchmark state-level EV adoption ecosystems.
18. IEMI evaluates 3 pillars: Electrification, Charging Readiness, and Innovation (using 16 indicators).
19. In NITI Aayog's IEMI report, Delhi ranked highest overall, while Chandigarh led among small states/UTs.
20. The State Food Safety Index (SFSI) is published annually by FSSAI on World Food Safety Day (June 7).
21. Kerala ranked 1st among large states in FSSAI's State Food Safety Index.
22. Uttar Pradesh became the first State in India to introduce a district-level Women's Economic Empowerment Index evaluating all 75 districts.
23. The Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS 3.0) is developed by DPIIT with technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
24. NITI Aayog is developing a comprehensive Manufacturing & Infrastructure Index to track state-level industrial scorecards.
25. The State Energy and Climate Index (SECI) is published by NITI Aayog to evaluate DISCOM performance and clean energy adoption.
26. Gujarat ranked top among large states in NITI Aayog's State Energy and Climate Index (SECI Round 1).
27. The Good Governance Index (GGI) is published by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
28. The School Education Quality Index (SEQI) is published by NITI Aayog to evaluate educational outcomes across States.
29. The Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) is published by NITI Aayog to benchmark state water management efficiency.
30. The Urban Governance Index (UGI) benchmarks cities on administrative decentralization and financial autonomy.

5. PYQ-Based Bits

• LEADS Report Publishing Agency & Methodology:
  • The LEADS Report is published annually by DPIIT (Ministry of Commerce and Industry). Unlike the World Bank's perception-only LPI, LEADS uses a hybrid methodology combining perception surveys and objective data.
• LEADS Performance Slabs & Telangana Classification:
  • LEADS categorizes States across 4 geographical groups (Coastal, Landlocked, North-East, UTs) and 3 performance tiers (Achievers, Fast Movers, Aspirers). Telangana is classified as an "Achiever" in the Landlocked group.
• State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) Focus & Indicators:
  • SMRI is published by the Ministry of Mines to rank non-coal mineral mining readiness. It evaluates 4 criteria: Auction Performance, Early Mine Operationalisation, Exploration Thrust, and Sustainable Mining Practices.
• BRAP Ease of Doing Business Categorization:
  • DPIIT's Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) evaluates states on business regulatory reforms and groups them into Top Achievers, Achievers, Fast Movers, and Aspirers. Telangana routinely features in the "Top Achiever" category.
• NITI Aayog Export Preparedness Index (EPI) Pillars:
  • EPI evaluates state export capability across 4 pillars: Policy, Business Ecosystem, Export Ecosystem, and Export Performance. Coastal states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra lead the rankings.
• FSSAI State Food Safety Index Parameters:
  • SFSI evaluates states on 5 parameters (Human Resources, Compliance, Food Testing, Capacity Building, Consumer Empowerment). Kerala leads the large states category.

6. Exam Analysis

• Priority: HIGH (Unit 15.4 is a core, high-yield area in public economics, state administration, and current affairs, contributing 2–3 questions per exam cycle).
• Frequently Tested Subtopics:
  1. LEADS Report (DPIIT publishing agency, 3 pillars, Achievers/Fast Movers/Aspirers tiers, Telangana status) (Very Frequent).
  2. State Mining Readiness Index - SMRI (Ministry of Mines, non-coal minerals, 4 criteria, Category A top states) (Very Frequent).
  3. Export Preparedness Index - EPI (NITI Aayog, 4 pillars, top coastal/landlocked states) (Very Frequent).
  4. Business Reform Action Plan - BRAP / State Ease of Doing Business (DPIIT, Top Achiever states) (Frequent).
  5. India Electric Mobility Index - IEMI & Sectoral State Indices (FSSAI Food Safety Index, District Women Empowerment Index) (Frequent).
• Common Question Patterns:
  • Matching state-level indices to their exact issuingUnion Ministry or think-tank (e.g., SMRI -> Ministry of Mines; LEADS -> DPIIT; EPI -> NITI Aayog).
  • Multi-statement assertions on index methodologies (e.g., LEADS uses hybrid perception + objective data; SMRI covers non-coal minerals).
  • Verifying state categorizations or tier placements (e.g., Telangana as LEADS Landlocked Achiever; MP leading SMRI Category A).
  • Distinguishing between domestic and global counterparts (e.g., LEADS by DPIIT vs LPI by World Bank).
• Factual / Conceptual / Numerical / Statement Tendency: High concentration of Publishing Nodal Agencies (DPIIT, Ministry of Mines, NITI Aayog, FSSAI), State Categories/Tiers (Achievers, Fast Movers, Aspirers; Categories A/B/C), Pillars/Criteria, and Top Ranking States.

7. Exam Traps

• Confusion: Believing that the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) evaluates coal mining and coal block allocation efficiency. → Correct understanding: SMRI evaluates state performance strictly in the NON-COAL mineral sector (iron ore, bauxite, limestone, critical minerals), not coal mining.

• Confusion: Assuming that the LEADS Report relies exclusively on perception surveys, just like the World Bank's global LPI. → Correct understanding: While World Bank's LPI relies solely on perception, LEADS uses a HYBRID methodology combining stakeholder perception surveys (60%) with objective quantitative data from States/UTs (40%).

• Confusion: Believing that the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) is published by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. → Correct understanding: EPI is published by NITI Aayog (in partnership with the Institute for Competitiveness). DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce publishes LEADS and BRAP.

• Confusion: Assuming that the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) assigns individual numerical ranks (e.g., Rank 1, Rank 2) to States. → Correct understanding: To prevent hyper-competition over minor fractional scores, BRAP groups States into 4 Performance Categories: Top Achievers, Achievers, Fast Movers, and Aspirers.

• Confusion: Believing that the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) is released by the Ministry of Heavy Industries. → Correct understanding: IEMI is conceptualized and released by NITI Aayog to benchmark state-level EV adoption maturity across 16 indicators.

8. Rapid Revision

1. State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) Publisher: Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
2. SMRI Sector Focus: Non-coal mineral mining (auctions, clearances, exploration, sustainability).
3. SMRI 4 Evaluation Criteria: Auction Performance, Early Mine Operationalisation, Exploration Thrust, Sustainable Mining Practices.
4. SMRI Category A (Mineral-Rich) Top State: Madhya Pradesh (followed by Rajasthan and Gujarat).
5. SMRI Category B Top State: Goa; Category C Top State: Punjab.
6. LEADS Report Publisher: DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (published annually).
7. LEADS Methodology: Hybrid Model (Stakeholder perception + Objective State data).
8. LEADS 3 Pillars: Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services, Operating/Regulatory Environment.
9. LEADS Performance Tiers: Achievers (>= 90%), Fast Movers (75–89%), Aspirers (< 75%).
10. Telangana LEADS Status: Categorized as an "Achiever" in the Landlocked States group.
11. Export Preparedness Index (EPI) Publisher: NITI Aayog & Institute for Competitiveness.
12. EPI 4 Pillars: Policy, Business Ecosystem, Export Ecosystem, Export Performance.
13. Top State on EPI: Tamil Nadu (1st overall).
14. Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) Publisher: DPIIT (State Ease of Doing Business framework).
15. BRAP Category Slabs: Top Achievers, Achievers, Fast Movers, Aspirers (Telangana is a Top Achiever).
16. India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) Publisher: NITI Aayog (16 indicators across 3 pillars).
17. Top Ranker on IEMI: Delhi (1st overall); Chandigarh leads among small states/UTs.
18. Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS 3.0) Publisher: DPIIT (supported by ADB).
19. State Food Safety Index (SFSI) Publisher: FSSAI (Kerala ranks 1st among large states).
20. District Women's Economic Empowerment Index: Introduced by Uttar Pradesh (first district-level gender index across 75 districts).
21. State Energy and Climate Index (SECI) Publisher: NITI Aayog (Gujarat ranks 1st among large states).
22. Good Governance Index (GGI) Publisher: DARPG (Ministry of Personnel).
23. Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) Publisher: NITI Aayog.
24. LEADS Target Alignment: Aligns state infrastructure with PM Gati Shakti and National Logistics Policy.
25. Manufacturing & Infrastructure Index: New scorecard framework being developed by NITI Aayog.