Fiscal Health Index 2026

NITI Aayog's Fiscal Health Index (FHI) is an annual scorecard that ranks Indian states on how soundly they run their finances. The second edition, unveiled on 11 March 2026 and built on Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)-audited figures for 2023-24, widened its reach from 18 major states to also cover 10 North-Eastern and Himalayan states, judged on a separate scale. Odisha again finished on top among the big states, while Punjab, West Bengal and Kerala anchored the bottom. NITI pitches the Index as an engine of competitive federalism on fiscal prudence - a public yardstick that pushes states to vie with one another on debt, deficits and the quality of what they spend.