The Public Affairs Centre (PAC) releases the Public Affairs Index (PAI) annually. The index measures the quality of the governance of India states at the subnational level. It uses a Composite Index (CI) to rank Indian states and Union Territories. Recently, Public Affairs Index 2020 has been released. This article will provide you with key findings of the latest index for the UPSC 2023 preparation.

Important Facts about Public Affairs Index

Who releases the Public Affairs Index? Public Affairs Centre – Not-for-Profit Organization (NPO) based in Bengaluru (Karnataka)
What does it measure? Governance in the states and union territories of India
How are the Indian states ranked in this index? Public Affairs Index 2020 used:

  • Three Pillars
  • Five Themes, and
  • 50 indicators

It maps the indicators to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relevant to Indian states.
Difference between previous PAI editions and PAI 2020 Public Affairs Index 2019 and 2020 integrate UN SDGs with the development trajectory of the Indian states unlike the PAI 2016-18.
Best governed state in India as per Public Affairs Index 2020 Kerala
States/Union Territory ranked first in Public Affairs Index 2020
  • Kerala ranked first among large states
  • Goa ranked first among small states
  • Chandigarh ranked first among Union Territories
Worst Performing States/UTs in Public Affairs Index 2020
  • Among large state category – Uttar Pradesh
  • Among small state category – Manipur
  • Among union territories – Dadra and Nagar Haveli
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  8. Daily Currunt Affairs

Pillars and Themes of Public Affairs Index

The three pillars that comprise five themes of Public Affairs Index are:

  1. Equity
  2. Growth
  3. Sustainability

The five themes to track the governance of the states and union territories of India are:

  1. Voice and Accountability
  2. Government Effectiveness
  3. Rule of Law
  4. Regulatory Quality
  5. Control of Corruption

Ranks of Indian States and Union Territories on Public Affairs Index 2020

In its overall rankings – the top five states in the Public Affairs Index from the large state category are:

  1. Kerala
  2. Tamil Nadu
  3. Andhra Pradesh
  4. Karnataka
  5. Chattisgarh

The top five states in the Public Affairs Index from the small state category are:

  1. Goa
  2. Meghalaya
  3. Himachal Pradesh
  4. Sikkim
  5. Tripura

The top five UTs in the Public Affairs Index from the small state category are:

  1. Chandigarh
  2. Puducherry
  3. Lakshadweep
  4. Daman and Diu
  5. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The index also ranks states and union territories on its three pillars. It divides states into two categories – Large States and Small States.

The rankings of Indian states and UTs on Public Affairs Index (pillar-wise) are mentioned below:

Public Affairs Index 2020 Rankings
1st Rank in Public Affairs Index – Equity Pillar (Large States) Andhra Pradesh
1st Rank in Public Affairs Index – Equity Pillar (Small States) Meghalaya
1st Rank in Public Affairs Index – Equity Pillar (Union Territory) Chandigarh
1st Rank in Public Affairs Index – Growth Pillar (Large States) Kerala
1st Rank in Public Affairs Index – Growth Pillar (Small States) Goa
1st Rank in Public Affairs Index – Growth Pillar (Union Territories) Puducherry
1st Rank in Public Affairs Index – Sustainability Pillar (Large States) Kerala
1st Rank in Public Affairs Index – Sustainability Pillar (Small States) Goa
1st Rank in Public Affairs Index – Sustainability Pillar (Union Territories) Chandigarh

Key Findings of Public Affairs Index 2020

Equity Principle: States and UTs have positively improved in the equity pillar of the public affairs index. Check the role of SDGs in influencing the performance of states under equity pillar of Public Affairs Index

States/UTs Which SDGs influenced the performance in Public Affairs Index – Equity
Large States SDG 3 – Infant mortality rate

SDG 10 – Female worker population ratio

SDG 16 – Crimes against women,

children and social minorities, proportion of undertrials
Small States SDG 11 – Populations living in urban slums

SDG 16 – Crimes against women,

children and social minorities, proportion of undertrials

SDG 10 – Female worker population ratio
Union Territories SDGs 5 – Gender Parity in Elementary Education

SDG 16 – Disposal of cases of corruption

Growth Imperative:

  • States that are technologically more advanced and whose economic activity is dispersed across a greater number of growth centres are ranked better in the public affairs index under ‘growth’ pillar.
  • All 5 states that topped the Public Affairs Index (Growth) rankings are South Indian states.

Check the role of SDGs in influencing the performance of states under ‘growth’ pillar of Public Affairs Index

States/UTs Which SDGs influenced the performance in Public Affairs Index – Growth
Large States SDG 3, 4,6, 7 and 11
Small States SDG 6, 8, 9 and 11
Union Territories SDGs 6 and 7

Sustainability as an organising principle – Check the role of SDGs in influencing the performance of states under the sustainability pillar of Public Affairs Index:

States/UTs Which SDGs influenced the performance in Public Affairs Index – Sustainability
Large States SDG 7 and 11
Small States SDG 15
Union Territories SDGs 7, 11 and15

Related Links:

Global Indices and India’s Rankings Global Innovation Index 
Global Peace Index Global Talent Competitiveness Index
Global Competitiveness Index World Press Freedom Index

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