Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Assam has surged to the top of the Northeast rankings in NITI Aayog’s inaugural Investment Friendliness Index. The state secured a position as a Frontrunner, placing 14th nationally with a score of 47.3. It finished second among hilly and northeastern states, trailing only Uttarakhand at 47.5. Tripura also achieved Frontrunner status with 45.0. Meghalaya and Nagaland ranked as Emerging Performers, while Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Manipur landed in the Aspiring States category.
Assam’s success stems from strong fiscal management and infrastructure focus. Between 2019 and 2024, the state directed 8% of annual spending toward roads, far outpacing the 3% national average. It also dedicated 18% of its budget to education. Despite this, technical workforce growth remains below national norms. The state’s interest payments sit at 2.8% of GSDP, showing prudent financial health. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma credited these results to stable policies and an improved law and order climate. He noted, "The state has become one of India's most attractive investment destinations."
Technological advancement continues elsewhere in the administration. Assam Police is now the region’s first Offline Verification Seeking Entity. This UIDAI-approved status allows officers to scan Aadhaar QR codes without internet access. The tool will assist field operations in difficult terrain, including border villages and char areas. Chief Minister Sarma stated the registration marks an important milestone in strengthening technology-enabled policing. It also simplifies routine tasks like tenant checks and arms license verification by neutralizing reliance on mobile networks.
Nationally, Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu topped the index. NITI Aayog identified logistics bottlenecks and small markets as regional hurdles. It urged states to improve industrial parks and digital governance to reach the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.
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