STATES
Odisha keeps top rank in NITI Aayog’s Fiscal Health Index, Goa, Jharkhand follow closely
- IBJ Bureau
- Mar 12, 2026
Odisha has retained its top position in the latest Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026 released by NITI Aayog, securing an overall score of 73.1.
The State has also improved its score from the previous year and reinforced its lead in fiscal management among major States.
Goa and Jharkhand follow in the rankings, emerging alongside Odisha in the group of top “Achiever” States.
Gujarat and Maharashtra continue to feature among the top-five performers, reflecting relatively-stable fiscal fundamentals.
Haryana has recorded a notable improvement, climbing three positions compared with the previous year.
Bihar, Karnataka and Telangana have showed signs of mild recovery, while Punjab, West Bengal and Kerala have remained at the bottom of the rankings.
The index, which evaluates the fiscal position of 18 major States, shows varied outcomes across the country.
While some States have experienced moderation in their FHI scores in 2023-24 compared with 2022-23, the overall assessment highlights differences in revenue mobilisation, expenditure management and debt sustainability.
States in the Achiever category – Odisha, Goa and Jharkhand – share several fiscal strengths. These include a high share of own tax revenue, generally exceeding 60 per cent, capital expenditure of around 4 to 5 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), fiscal deficits below 3 per cent of GSDP, moderate debt levels under 25 per cent of GSDP and relatively-manageable interest burdens.
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