Gujarat: In the first ever ranking of States by the World Bank on the basis of the ease of doing business in India, Gujarat has come out on top.

The states were assessed on the implementation, over a six-month period from January to June, of a 98-point reforms agenda. Chief Secretaries of States participating in the “Make in India” workshop inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi last December finalised this action plan on “Ease of Doing Business”.

It was decided later to evaluate States to assess progress by June 2015.

BJP-governed States dominate the top ranks. Gujarat implemented 71.14 per cent of the reforms, according to the assessment. Andhra Pradesh came second with a score of 70.12 per cent, Jharkhand third at 63.09 per cent, Chhattisgarh fourth with 62.45 per cent and Madhya Pradesh fifth with 62 per cent.

The largest recipients of foreign investments, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, are ranked eighth and twelfth with less than 50 per cent scores.

“The rankings reflect the ease of doing business in these States by the small and medium enterprises rather than foreign investors,” said World Bank Country Director Onno Ruhl.

The Union Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, the Confederation of Indian Industry, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CII) and KPMG were involved in the exercise. The rankings of States will be released annually.