India's Richest and Poorest States: Check All the Details Here!

 Southern states like Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu have experienced substantial economic advancement, collectively contributing 30% of India's GDP. This widening economic gap underscores policymakers' challenges as they strive to foster more equitable development across the nation's diverse regions.

Richest States by Per Capita Income

According to a report by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) released on September 18, 2024, these are the five richest states in India based on per capita income as a percentage of the national average:

1. Telangana: 176.8%
2. Delhi: 167.5%
3. Haryana: 176.8%
4. Maharashtra: 150.7%
5. Uttarakhand: 145.5%

Telangana, India's youngest state formed in 2014, has emerged as one of the richest states. Delhi and Haryana have also consistently performed well, with Delhi having one of the highest per capita incomes. Maharashtra, despite remaining India's top GDP contributor, doesn't rank among the top five in per capita income.

Poorest States by Per Capita Income

The poorest states in India by per capita income are:

1. Bihar: 39.2%
2. Uttar Pradesh: 43.8%
3. Madhya Pradesh: 46.1%
4. Rajasthan: 51.6%
5. Chhattisgarh: 52.3%

Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, despite being the most populous states, have the lowest per capita incomes at 43.8% and 39.2% of the national average respectively.

Contribution to India's GDP

The five southern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu collectively account for 30% of India's GDP as of March 2024, up from being below the national average in 1991.

Maharashtra remains India's top GDP contributor, but its share has declined from over 15% to 13.3% in recent years.

West Bengal, once a major contributor accounting for 10.5% of GDP in 1960-61, has seen a steady decline to just 5.6% currently. Its per capita income has also dropped from 127.5% of the national average to 83.7%, falling behind states like Rajasthan and Odisha.

The poorest states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have seen their GDP contributions dwindle, with Uttar Pradesh's share falling from 14% in 1960-61 to 9.5% and Bihar contributing only 4.3% despite being the third-most populous state.

The growing economic disparity between India's states, particularly between the prosperous south and struggling northern regions, highlights the need for targeted policies. Balancing regional growth and addressing inequality is crucial to ensuring sustainable economic progress and prosperity for the entire country.