In the second edition of the India Innovation Index ranking released here on Wednesday, four southern states—Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala—occupied the top five spots under the ‘Major States’ category.
Karnataka has maintained its top position among the major states’ category. “Karnataka’s rank is attributable to its substantive number of venture capital deals, registered geographical indicators and information and communications technology exports. Karnataka’s high Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow has also enhanced the innovation capabilities of the state. Four southern states—Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala—occupied the top five spots under the ‘Major States’ category this year,” a Niti Ayog report said.
Maharashtra leapfrogged Tamil Nadu to take second place in the rankings, followed by Telangana, Kerala, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Among Union territories, and Northeastern and hill states, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh took the top spots, respectively.
Overall, Delhi retained its number one rank. Chandigarh made a big leap since 2019 and grabbed the second place this year.
“As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic this year, the significance of innovation is even more greatly felt. While innovation has always been pivotal for higher productivity and economic growth, it is also crucial for bolstering a post-crisis economy. In this light, the foresight of the central government in fostering a culture of innovation through initiatives like the Atal Innovation Mission, Startup India, etc. is laudable,” Niti Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar said.
“Since then, India, and the world, has undergone a tectonic shift due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the pandemic triggering an economic shutdown, the role of innovation to revitalize the economy, has never been more important,” the report said.
“I hope that the India Innovation Index 2020 can help the country in recognizing the key areas of developmental intervention, with innovation as the central driver for growth,” Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said.
