New Delhi, Feb. 10 -- Ask a question about the relative performance of Indian states and most Indians will recall the term 'BIMARU.' This acronym, attributed to analyst Ashish Bose, was coined in the mid-80s and referred to laggard states in terms of economic and human development indicators (HDI): Bihar, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (UP). The word was used pejoratively, since it translates from Hindi as 'sick.'

In the intervening 40 years, much has happened. First, these four states have become seven states, with Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand having been carved out in 2000 from Bihar, MP and UP respectively.

Since birth, Uttarakhand has been a well-performing state in terms of state GDP per capita (GSDP pe...