What’s in the news?

• Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal has released the “Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEADS) 2023” report.
• The report serves as a guide for stakeholders in the Logistics Sector by providing strategic insights, he added. He hoped that it will play a pivotal role in instilling healthy competition among States/UTs to enhance logistics performance. 
• LEADS was conceived on the lines of Logistics Performance Index of World Bank in 2018 and has evolved over time. 
• While the LPI relies entirely on perception-based surveys, LEADS incorporates both perception as well as objectivity thereby enhancing the robustness and comprehensiveness of this exercise.

Highlights of the Index

• The 5th edition of the LEADS annual exercise – LEADS 2023 report, provides insights into improvement of logistics performance at State/UT level. 
• It highlights an enhanced overall stakeholder perception and impact of various reforms, across States and UTs. 
• This report, signalling a positive shift in States’ performance across the key pillars – Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services and Operating and Regulatory Environment, empowers the State/UT Governments by providing region specific insights for informed decision making and comprehensive growth. 

Performance Highlights from LEADS 2023:

• Coastal Group
  • Achievers: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
  • Fast Movers: Kerala, Maharashtra
  • Aspirers: Goa, Odisha, West Bengal
• Landlocked Group
  • Achievers: Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh
  • Fast Movers: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
  • Aspirers: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand
• North-East Group
  • Achievers: Assam, Sikkim, Tripura
  • Fast Movers: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland
  • Aspirers: Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram
• Union Territories
  • Achievers: Chandigarh, Delhi
  • Fast Movers: Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Puducherry
  • Aspirers: Daman & Diu/ Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh
• The latest edition builds strengthening objectivity and precision in assessment by considering a wider spectrum of state initiatives, including the adoption of PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for project planning, aligning State Logistics Policies with National Logistics Policy, besides developing City Logistics plans, etc. 

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1987132