New Delhi (12.04.2022): Gujarat has topped NITI Aayog’s State Energy and Climate Index-Round I in the key findings of a report released by the think tank. The index ranked the states’ performance on six parameters — DISCOM’s performance, access, affordability and reliability of energy, clean energy initiatives, energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and new initiatives. The parameters were further divided into 27 indicators. Based on the composite SECI Round I score, the states and UTs were categorized into three groups — Front Runners, Achievers, and Aspirants.

Gujarat, Kerala, and Punjab have been ranked as the top three performers in the category of larger states. Goa, emerged as the top-performing state in the smaller states category, followed by Tripura, and Manipur. Among UTs, Chandigarh, Delhi, Daman and Diu/Dadra and Nagar Haveli were the top performers. Detailed state profiles and scorecards have been included in the report which provides a comprehensive snapshot of each state and union territory on the various parameters. The index released by NITI Aayog ranked 28 states and seven Union Territories. 

“This edition of the report reveals that some of the important data is not available at the state level. There is a need to develop a robust mechanism for capturing such data so that it can be incorporated in future editions of the report,” said Niti Aayog.

Dr Rajiv Kumar, NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman, said that there is a need to convert our efforts towards achieving the ‘Panchamrit’ targets announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the COP-26, Glasgow, into a peoples’ movement. In order to do this, the role of the states is going to be critical, he said.