Gujarat tops NITI Aayog’s first Investment Friendliness Index 2026 among major States
Gujarat has secured the top position in NITI Aayog’s inaugural Investment Friendliness Index 2026, outperforming other major Indian states. The report attributes this success to the state's robust infrastructure, streamlined business facilitation, fiscal discipline, and competitive power tariffs.
Why it matters
This index serves as a critical benchmark for domestic and international investors, signaling which Indian states offer the most stable and efficient environments for capital deployment.
Gujarat has emerged as the country’s leading investment destination after securing the top position among major States in NITI Aayog’s first-ever Investment Friendliness Index 2026, according to the report released by the Chief Minister’s Office on Saturday (July 18, 2026).
The State scored 56.6 points, ahead of Maharashtra (53.7) and Tamil Nadu (53.3), in an assessment of 17 major States. The index evaluates States across 84 indicators under eight pillars covering the entire investment lifecycle, including policy and governance, infrastructure, business facilitation and fiscal management.
According to the report, Gujarat’s policy stability, investor-centric governance and streamlined business facilitation mechanisms have contributed to its top ranking. The Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb) was cited for providing end-to-end investor support through its single-window clearance system, while the State’s time-bound framework for statutory approvals and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) has helped reduce project implementation delays.
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