Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu top NITI Aayog’s Investment Friendliness Index

Exam-focused facts from the 20 July 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) released the Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) on July 17, 2026, assessing investment ecosystems across 28 states and eight Union Territories.
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Odisha were named the top performers in the overall assessment.
Among large states, Gujarat secured the first rank, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Among hilly and North-Eastern states, Uttarakhand ranked first, followed by Assam and Himachal Pradesh.
Among city states and Union Territories, Goa led, followed by Delhi and Chandigarh.
The index evaluates investment attractiveness across eight pillars and comprises 84 indicators, combining secondary data with a perception-based investor survey.