Raipur: Chhattisgarh has emerged as one of India’s most investment-friendly destinations after securing the No. 1 rank among large states in both Regulatory Ease and Institutional Environment in the CRISIL–NITI Aayog Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) 2026. The state also ranked second in Environment Resilience, reflecting its growing reputation for governance reforms and investor-focused policies.
Business-Friendly Regulatory Framework
Chhattisgarh scored 8.4 out of 12 in Regulatory Ease, outperforming Rajasthan, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The ranking is based on factors such as approval timelines, NOCs, construction permits, utility connections, commercial court efficiency and ease of business exit. The report concludes that businesses in Chhattisgarh face the least regulatory friction among India’s large states.
Governance Drives Investor Confidence
In the Institutional Environment pillar, the state secured 4.5 out of 6, ranking first among large states. The assessment evaluates governance quality through indicators including policy stability, economic and cybercrime, labour disruptions and grievance redressal. According to the report, Chhattisgarh offers a stable, predictable and investor-friendly governance ecosystem that supports long-term investments.
Strong Performance in Climate Resilience
The state ranked second in Environment Resilience, indicating better disaster preparedness and lower operational risks for industries. This strengthens industrial assets, supply chains and long-term investment security.
Industrial Strength and Fiscal Stability
The report highlights Chhattisgarh’s strong industrial base, ranking it third among large states in the Resources category. It is India’s second-largest producer of coal and lignite and one of the leading producers of metallic and non-metallic minerals. The state also recorded a Financial Health score of 5.4 out of 7, while industry contributes 52.8% to the Gross Value Added (GVA).
Reforms Fueling Growth
The report attributes the state’s performance to policy initiatives such as the Industrial Development Policy 2024–30, the second edition of the Jan Vishwas Act, decriminalising 279 minor business offences, and the Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026, introducing India’s first risk-based industrial regulatory framework.
AI Infrastructure and Future Investments
Chhattisgarh is rapidly strengthening its digital ecosystem with India’s first AI Data Centre Park under development in Nava Raipur through a ₹1,000 crore investment by RackBank Datacenters. Dedicated disaster recovery data centres are also being established, positioning the state as a future hub for AI and digital infrastructure.
8 Lakh Crore Investment Pipeline
Backed by sustained reforms and institutional strengthening, Chhattisgarh has attracted investment proposals worth more than 8 lakh crore over the past 18 months across sectors including semiconductors, AI data centres, pharmaceuticals, textiles and agro-processing, reflecting growing confidence among domestic and global investors.
