The second edition of the metric for assessing the innovation capabilities of Indian states and Union Territories has been released. Karnataka is one of the only states that has continued to remain at the top spot in Niti Aayog’s India Innovation Index, as is seen in the list revealed on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Maharashtra jumped over Tamil Nadu to take the second position, followed by Telengana, Kerala, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
In the list, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh occupy the top spots among the Union Territories and North-Eastern and other hill states of India.
The vice chairman of the Niti Aayog, Rajiv Kumar commented, “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.”
He also said, “the second edition of the index will allow states to continue to evaluate their innovation environment and assess their progress. The division of innovation into two dimensions, namely innovation capabilities (Enablers) and innovation outcomes (Performance) will give the states a better perspective for identifying the critical focus areas.”
The previous edition of the India Innovation Index was released in October 2019. It was the first time a metric of this kind was used for assessing the innovation capabilities of Indian states and Union Territories.
“Since then, India, and the world, have undergone a tectonic shift due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the pandemic triggering an economic shutdown, the role of innovation to revitalise the economy has never been more important,” the report said.
This recent 2020 edition expects to work further on the last year’s methodology by introducing more metrics, thus providing a more holistic approach towards the Indian economy. The framework is updated frequently to include parameters that are globally considered for measuring innovation, such as the percentage of GDP spent on research and development, while keeping them specific to the Indian economy.
Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said, “I hope that the India Innovation Index 2020 can help the country in recognising the key areas of developmental intervention, with innovation as the central driver for growth. NITI Aayog will continue to take such initiatives that play a significant role in promoting cooperative and competitive federalism.”
