PANAJI
Goa is India’s second richest State, after Sikkim, measured in terms of per capita income, which has doubled in the last five decades. However, the coastal State’s contribution in terms of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has dropped from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent during the period.
A report by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, released last month, highlights that Goa has excelled in per capita income terms, with its relative per capita income doubling since 1970-71. In 2022-23, the per capita income of Goa was nearly three times the national average and with this it is second, in terms of per capita income after Sikkim.
“Goa's relative per capita income has nearly doubled, rising from 144 per cent in 1970-71 to 290 per cent in 2023- 24. Sikkim, which had a per capita income of just 93 per cent of the national average in 1990-91, surged to 319 per cent by 2023-24. They are now India’s richest states measured in terms of per capita incomes,” the study revealed.
However, State share to national GDP has declined from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent. Goa started contributing to national GDP from the 80s with initial 0..3 per cent contribution that jumped to 0.5 per cent in the successive years.
The report highlights that the western and southern regions of India have performed notably better than other parts of the country.
“Maharashtra and Gujarat have consistently demonstrated strong economic performance over the years. Additionally, the southern states have significantly outpaced others after economic liberalization, with the five states collectively accounting for approximately 30 per cent of India's GDP,” the report said.
In the north, states like Delhi and Haryana also stand out. Delhi has one of the highest per capita incomes while Punjab’s relative per capita income has declined after 2000s, while Haryana, which was once behind, has surpassed Punjab on both economic indicators.
The eastern part of the country remains a concern, according to the study. West Bengal has experienced a continuous decline in its relative economic performance over several decades. Although Bihar’s relative position has stabilized in the last two decades, it remains significantly behind other states and requires much faster growth to catch up. Conversely, Odisha, traditionally a laggard, has shown marked improvement in recent years. Overall, maritime states have clearly outperformed the other states, with the exception of West Bengal.
