J&K 21st in ‘ease of doing business’ rankings

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 9

Jammu and Kashmir continues to find a place among the laggards as far as ‘ease of doing business’ is considered.

According to latest rankings, Jammu and Kashmir is positioned 21st  among 36 states and UTs — improving its previous ranking by a single place. In 2018, it was considered as “slow mover”.

The ranking is based on the implementation of the Business Reform Action Plan 2019, according to a report released by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday.

In 2018, J&K was ranked 22nd among 32 states assessed, thus making it one of the “worst states to do business with”.

For the purpose of State Reform Action Plan 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has been evaluated as a state since the reforms have been implemented jointly. However, from next exercise, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh will be considered as separate UTs.

Andhra Pradesh for the third time in a row has topped the list. Uttar Pradesh occupied the second position by registering a jump of 10 places in the rankings.

Jammu and Kashmir had also fared poorly on the NITI Aayog’s Export Preparedness Index 2020, achieving dismal 36th rank, below Nagaland and Andaman and Nicobar islands.