Punjab Last in Fiscal Health Index, Odisha Tops Chart

Odisha emerged as the healthiest state in five broad fiscal health parameters — quality of expenditure, revenue mobilisation, fiscal prudence, debt index, and debt sustainability — in financial year 2022-23, followed by Chhattisgarh and Goa, according to Niti Aayog's Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025 report released on Friday.

- Rajeev Jayaswal

NEW DELHI:

While Odisha topped with 67.8 FHI score with an achiever's tag, Punjab was at the bottom of the list of 18 major states under evaluation with 10.7 FHI score. It was clubbed with Kerala (FHI score 25.4), West Bengal (21.8) and Andhra Pradesh (20.9). The index, released by chairman of 16th Finance Commission, Arvind Panagariya, aimed at evolving an understanding of the fiscal health of states in India. The composite FHI has been developed using data from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), focusing on the above-mentioned five sub-indices.