New Delhi, Jan. 15 -- Maharashtra has secured the top position among large states in NITI Aayog's Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024, according to data released on Wednesday. The state scored 68.01, placing it ahead of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, which ranked second and third with scores of 64.41 and 64.02 respectively. The Export Preparedness Index is a framework developed by NITI Aayog to assess how prepared Indian states and Union Territories are to engage in international trade. The index evaluates policy structures, infrastructure, industrial ecosystems, and export outcomes, and is intended to help states identify gaps and align reforms with national trade goals. Apart from Maharashtra, other large states placed in the 'Leader' category include Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, and Telangana. States such as Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, and West Bengal were classified as 'Challengers', while Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Jharkhand were placed in the 'Aspirers' category. Among smaller states and Union Territories, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Nagaland recorded the highest scores. The rankings indicate participation from both coastal and inland regions, with states at different levels of export readiness. The EPI 2024 evaluates states across four pillars: policy and governance, export infrastructure, industrial and innovation ecosystem, and export performance. These pillars are measured using 70 indicators. The index has expanded its scope in this edition by including parameters related to human capital, MSME participation, cost factors, access to finance, and the macroeconomic environment. According to NITI Aayog, the index is not intended solely as a ranking mechanism. It is designed to function as a diagnostic tool to support policy planning at the state level. The framework aims to encourage coordination between central and state governments and promote data-based decision-making. Maharashtra's score reflects outcomes across multiple sectors including manufacturing, services, logistics, and finance. The state's port access, industrial clusters, and export promotion systems contributed to its overall ranking, the report noted. The release of the index aligns with India's stated objective of expanding merchandise and services exports in the coming years. The government has set a target of $1 trillion in merchandise exports by 2030 and outlined longer-term trade goals under the "Viksit Bharat @2047" framework. Speaking at the launch of the index, NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer BVR Subrahmanyam said India should aim to reach an export economy of $8-10 trillion by 2047. He said that as India signs Free Trade Agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements, states will need to develop systems that can meet international standards and adapt to changing market access conditions. Subrahmanyam added that export competitiveness depends on cost and quality, and said that domestic production must align with global benchmarks rather than rely on protection measures. Senior Adviser at NITI Aayog Sanjeet Singh said the 2024 edition of the index places emphasis on districts as the operational units of export development. He said this approach links national export targets with district-level planning through export promotion committees, logistics coordination, skill development, and support for MSME clusters. Data presented at the event showed that coastal states continue to feature prominently in the rankings due to port access, though inland states have shown changes in performance....