Chhattisgarh leads investment index after securing Rs 8 lakh crore proposals

Chhattisgarh has attracted investment proposals worth nearly Rs 8 lakh crore over the past 18 months and emerged as the country’s top-performing state on key investor-focused parameters in the CRISIL–NITI Aayog Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) 2026, officials said on Sunday.

According to a government statement, the state secured the top rank among 17 major states in the two key parameters for investors — regulatory ease and institutional environment. It also ranked second in environmental resilience.

Chhattisgarh achieved an overall score of 47.5 in the index, ahead of states including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Rajasthan.

Officials attributed the performance to administrative and policy measures introduced over the past 18 months under the government led by chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai. The government said efforts to simplify procedures and speed up industrial approvals helped the state score 8.4 out of 12 in regulatory ease and 4.5 out of 6 in institutional environment.

Officials said Chhattisgarh became the first state in India to introduce a risk-based regulatory framework through the Chhattisgarh Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026.

The government also highlighted the Jan Vishwas Act, which decriminalised 279 minor and outdated business offences, reducing the compliance burden for businesses.

“Our objective is not merely to attract investment, but to generate large-scale employment, promote local entrepreneurship, and ensure inclusive economic growth,” chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai said.

The government said these policy measures have helped the state secure nearly Rs 8 lakh crore in investment proposals within a year and a half.

While Chhattisgarh remains India’s second-largest coal producer, with industry contributing 52.8 per cent of its Gross Value Added (GVA), the government said fresh investment proposals are increasingly being directed towards high-technology and emerging sectors.

The NITI Aayog report also noted that the state’s economic growth has been accompanied by environmental and social progress.

“The State ranked second nationwide in Environmental Resilience, ensuring that its industrial expansion remains ecologically sustainable,” a government spokesperson said.

The report further stated that Chhattisgarh has a female workforce participation rate of 58.1 per cent, which is 41 per cent higher than the average of India’s larger states.

According to the government, the combination of a stable institutional environment, an inclusive workforce and business-focused reforms has strengthened Chhattisgarh’s position as an investment destination.