New Delhi: Gujarat has retained the top position in the list of 21 states and UTs with most investment potential, according to a report by think-tank NCAER.
Gujarat is followed by Delhi, AP, Haryana, Telangana, TN, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka and MP.
The ranking of 20 states and one Union Territory of Delhi was based on six pillars — labour, infrastructure, economic climate, governance and political stability, perceptions and land — and 51 sub-indicators.
While Gujarat topped in economic climate and perceptions, Delhi ranked one in infrastructure. While Tamil Nadu topped the chart in labour issues, Madhya Pradesh ranked one in land pillar.
The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) State Investment Potential Index (NSIPI 2017) report ranks states on their competitiveness in business and their investment climate.
Compared to 2016, Gujarat and Delhi again top the list of states, while Haryana and Telangana have moved rapidly up the ranks to finish among the top five, it said.
NCAER director general Shekhar Shah said: “Investment opportunities are expanding in India in all sectors. The GST will weave India's states together in ways that has not been possible before”.
Further the report said that although Bihar, UP and West Bengal are ranked among the least favourable states for investment, they rank higher under individual pillars.
Indira Iyer, the team leader for the report, stated that “corruption” continues to be the number one constraint faced by businesses. However, she said, there has been a decline in respondents citing corruption.
