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 2023Â preparation.
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Important Facts about Public Affairs Index |
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| 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:
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 |
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| Worst Performing States/UTs in Public Affairs Index 2020 |
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| Are you preparing for IAS 2023? Check UPSC Eligibility Criteria now:
Complement your UPSC preparation with the following links: |
Pillars and Themes of Public Affairs Index
The three pillars that comprise five themes of Public Affairs Index are:
- Equity
- Growth
- Sustainability
The five themes to track the governance of the states and union territories of India are:
- Voice and Accountability
- Government Effectiveness
- Rule of Law
- Regulatory Quality
- 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:
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Andhra Pradesh
- Karnataka
- Chattisgarh
The top five states in the Public Affairs Index from the small state category are:
- Goa
- Meghalaya
- Himachal Pradesh
- Sikkim
- Tripura
The top five UTs in the Public Affairs Index from the small state category are:
- Chandigarh
- Puducherry
- Lakshadweep
- Daman and Diu
- 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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