Andhra Pradesh emerged as the top ranked state in the Union government’s latest ease of doing business index for states released on Tuesday.
As per the index, jointly prepared by the World Bank and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Andhra Pradesh is followed by neighbouring Telangana, and Haryana is in third place.
Jharkhand and Gujarat stood fourth and fifth, respectively.
According to the Commerce Ministry, the final rankings under the Business Reforms Action Plan were arrived at after combining the various "reform evidence score" and "feedback score".
The "reform evidence score" is allotted on the basis of 372 recommendations for reforms on regulatory processes, policies, practices and procedures spread across 12 reform areas.
"The aim of this exercise is to improve delivery of various Central government regulatory functions and services in an efficient, effective and transparent manner," a statement from the Commerce Ministry said.
Jharkhand and Telangana scored 100 per cent score in their reform evidence scores.
This year's top five states figure ahead of the industrialised states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Maharashtra ranked 13th with a reform evidence score of 97.29 per cent and a feedback score of 50.29 per cent.
Tamil Nadu was ranked 15th with a reform evidence score of 95.93 per cent and a feedback score of 43.90 per cent.
The Northeastern states, except Assam, continue to remain at the bottom of the rankings
Delhi's score worsened to 33.99 per cent, from 47 per cent in 2016, and the capital is at the 23rd spot in this year's rankings.
More than 5,000 private sector users in 23 states and union territories, including 4,300 businesses and 800 architects, lawyers and electrical contractors from across the country shared their experience in this exercise.
In 2016, it was announced that the bifurcated states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were the new joint top-ranked states of that year, in ease of doing business.
In 2017, it was stated that Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Gujarat continued to be the three best-performing states.
IANS inputs