1 month ago
Telangana and Andhra Miss Top Performer Tag in NITI Aayog's IFI Rankings
The NITI Aayog released the Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) 2026, which ranks Indian states on their ability to attract investments.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, both strong in business, missed the top performer tag.
Andhra has good digital infrastructure and ports but struggles with debt and infrastructure outside major areas.
Telangana has a talented workforce and easy regulations but faces issues with crime and interior infrastructure.
The index aims to help states improve by learning from each other.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ranked 8th and 13th respectively in NITI Aayog's IFI 2026.
Andhra Pradesh scored 48.7 and Telangana scored 47.3, missing the 'Top Performers' tag.
Andhra has strong digital infrastructure and ports but faces fiscal health and infrastructure issues.
Telangana excels in talent and regulatory ease but struggles with crime and interior infrastructure.
The IFI aims to help states improve by identifying strengths and weaknesses.
- Who
- NITI Aayog
- What
- Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) 2026
- Where
- India
- When
- Released last week
- Why
- To understand how well Indian states are positioned to attract investments
Andhra Pradesh's Performance
Telangana's Performance
Fiscal Health
Andhra Pradesh's Performance
Andhra Pradesh has elevated debt profiles, signaling a heavy reliance on borrowing, which undermines long-term capacity to fund public services and infrastructure.
Telangana's Performance
Telangana faces a surge in white-collar crime risks, including economic offenses and cybercrime, threatening its investment climate.
Infrastructure
Andhra Pradesh's Performance
Andhra Pradesh has strong digital infrastructure and extensive coastline with deep-water ports but faces infrastructure issues outside major corridors.
Telangana's Performance
Telangana has a premium talent pool and rapid approvals but suffers from lagging interior infrastructure and peripheral logistics network.
Key facts
- Andhra Pradesh Score
- 48.7
- Telangana Score
- 47.3
- Top Performers
- Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Odisha
- Andhra Pradesh's Strengths
- Digital infrastructure, coastline, deep-water ports, industrial corridors
- Telangana's Strengths
- Premium talent pool, regulatory ease, efficient commercial court system
- Andhra Pradesh's Weaknesses
- Fiscal health, infrastructure outside major corridors
- Telangana's Weaknesses
- White-collar crime risks, interior infrastructure, peripheral logistics network
Quotes
Veera Sekhar Reddy
Spokesperson for the YSR Congress Party
“"If the cybercrime rates are as alarming, then companies such as Amazon who are setting up data centres will be worried. These high cybercrime rates were also flagged by the National Crime Bureau. The government needs to address this as a top priority, which could otherwise derail future investments."”
theprint.in
“"AP, which ranked Numer # 1 in the Ease of Doing Business Index under former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, has slipped to the eighth place under the Chandrababu Naidu‑led government, proving that its industrial claims are nothing more than publicity," Reddy said.”
theprint.in











