- Why in news
- On 14 January 2026, NITI Aayog released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024, the fourth edition of its assessment of export readiness in States and UTs.
- What it is
- The Export Preparedness Index is a NITI Aayog report that scores States and UTs on how ready their economies are to export. It uses indicators drawn from official data to find gaps in infrastructure, business environment, policy and export results. States use it to learn from peers and plan export strategies.
- Structure
- The index has four pillars, 13 sub-pillars and 70 indicators.
- Classification
- States and UTs are grouped as Large States & Small States, North East States and Union Territories. Within each group they are labelled Leaders, Challengers or Aspirers.
- Publisher
- NITI Aayog, the Government of India's policy think tank, publishes the index.
Don’t confuse with EPI vs Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS): EPI, from NITI Aayog, scores States on overall export readiness. LEADS is a Commerce Ministry index that ranks States on logistics efficiency.
Reports and indices: 14 Prelims questions since 2013; they test who publishes a report and what it measures.
Why it matters
- It shows States where export infrastructure, cost competitiveness and policy are weak, which helps in targeted reform.
- It supports the goal of USD 1 trillion merchandise exports by 2030 by making States and districts central to export growth.
Problems
- Export readiness is uneven across States, which can widen regional disparities.
- Index scores depend on the quality and timeliness of official data.
Way forward
- Strengthen export infrastructure, cost competitiveness and institutions at State and district level.
- Build predictable and transparent policy environments and improve product quality.
Put in your answer
Export target: The index is linked to the aim of USD 1 trillion in merchandise exports by 2030 and the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.
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UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting index, 4th edition. Reports and indices are 14 of 327 news-linked Prelims questions, mostly on publisher, so a question is unlikely here.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.