NITI Aayog released Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024, a comprehensive assessment of export readiness across India’s States and Union Territories (UTs). This is 4th edition of Index. The first edition was published in August 2020. The Index aligns with India’s long-term trade and development goals, including:
- USD 1 trillion merchandise exports by 2030
- Viksit Bharat @2047
It recognises the critical role of States and districts in shaping India’s export performance amid global volatility.
Key Takeaways
India’s export growth increasingly depends on States and districts
The EPI 2024 emphasises that India’s export trajectory is now driven by subnational preparedness. Strengthening export infrastructure, reducing costs, improving institutions, and ensuring predictable policies at the State and district level are essential for:
- Sustained economic growth
- Employment generation
- Reducing regional disparities
- Deeper integration into global value chains
Framework and structure of EPI 2024
Four-pillar framework
The Export Preparedness Index 2024 is built on 4 pillars, 13 sub-pillars, and 70 indicators, allowing a granular and policy-relevant assessment.
Pillars of EPI 2024
- Export Infrastructure
- Trade & logistics infrastructure
- Connectivity & utilities
- Industrial infrastructure
- Business Ecosystem
- Access to finance
- Human capital
- MSME ecosystem
- Policy & Governance
- State export policy
- Institutional capacity
- Trade facilitation
- Export Performance
- Export outcomes
- Export diversification
- Global integration
New analytical focus areas
The 2024 edition deepens analysis by incorporating:
- Macroeconomic stability
- Cost competitiveness
- Human capital quality
- Financial access
- MSME ecosystem strength
Existing indicators were refined to improve precision, comparability, and policy relevance.
Classification of States and Union Territories
Categorisation for peer learning
States and UTs are grouped into:
- Large States
- Small States
- North Eastern States
- Union Territories
Performance categories
Within each group, regions are classified as:
- Leaders – High export preparedness
- Challengers – Moderate preparedness with scope for improvement
- Aspirers – Early-stage export ecosystem development
District-centric approach
A major shift in EPI 2024 is the emphasis on districts as the core units of export competitiveness, linking national export goals with:
- Local industrial clusters
- District-level capabilities
- Value-chain integration
Methodology and data source
Data-driven assessment
- Uses official data from Central Ministries, State Governments, and public institutions
- Indicators are normalised and aggregated using statistical techniques
- Balanced weightages are assigned to pillars and sub-pillars
Pillar-wise weightage
- Export Infrastructure: 20%
- Business Ecosystem: 40%
- Policy & Governance: 20%
- Export Performance: 20%
Methodological refinements in 2024 aim to enhance robustness and policy usability. Detailed indicator definitions and State-wise scores are provided in the EPI 2024 report.
Top performing States and Union Territories (EPI 2024)
Large States – Top performers
- Maharashtra
- Tamil Nadu
- Gujarat
- Uttar Pradesh
- Andhra Pradesh
Small States, North Eastern States & UTs – Top performers
- Uttarakhand
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Nagaland
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu
- Goa
State-specific highlights
- Uttarakhand emerged as the top performer among Small States/UTs by implementing:
- Export and Logistics Policy
- District-level focus under One District One Product (ODOP)
- Jammu & Kashmir and Nagaland followed closely among small and northeastern regions
- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat continue to lead among large states due to strong industrial bases and export ecosystems
Significance of Export Preparedness Index
Why EPI matters
- Identifies strengths and gaps in State and district export ecosystems
- Enables targeted policy interventions
- Supports export diversification and global integration
- Acts as an evidence-based tool for cooperative federalism in trade policy