Telangana top performer in innovation: NITI Ayog

HYDERABAD: Reflecting its rapid strides in innovation and technology across spheres, Telangana has emerged as the top performer in India Innovation Index 2021 rankings. A report, prepared by NITI Ayog in association with Institute for Competitiveness (IFC) and released in New Delhi on Thursday, put the deccan state at the top of the list in the category of 'performers'.

In the overall positioning, Karnataka is ranked at the top of the list followed by Telangana at number 2 among all the states in the country.

The third edition of the India Innovation Index for the year 2021 has conducted a detailed study of the states' performance on several parameters. In a third significant achievement on the index, Telangana also figures at number 4 in the category of 'enabler states'.

While Karnataka took the top spot in the overall rankings for the states, Manipur and Chandigarh too topped in their respective categories of northeastern and hilly states and union territories and city-states. Telangana claimed the second spot among states in the overall rankings. Similarly, Uttarakhand and Delhi came second among northeastern and hilly states and UTs and city-states respectively.

The third edition of the India Innovation Index contained more indicators as compared to the previous two editions. They have been raised from 33 (in 2020) to 66 (2021) indicators.

NITI Ayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery released the third edition of the index in New Delhi on Thursday. NITI Ayog CEO Parameswaran Iyer, Member Dr VK Saraswat, Senior Advisor Neeraj Sinha besides Institute for Competitiveness Chairman Dr Amit Kapoor were present on the occasion.

The index has been prepared on the basis of extensive research and critical analysis of the states and union territories. The report presents an evaluation of the innovation readiness of the states and UTs and highlights potential challenges that deter the government, businesses and individuals from fully realizing their potential.