The Niti Aayog Investment Friendliness Index 2026 ranked Tamil Nadu first among large states on the infrastructure pillar and placed it third overall with a composite score of 53.3, behind Gujarat at 56.6 and Maharashtra at 53.7. The assessment highlighted the state’s technical talent, efficient ports and a reliable power network as competitive advantages.

The report said an extensive network of engineering colleges, industrial training institutes and polytechnics has created a strong industrial skills ecosystem that supports automobiles, electronics and advanced manufacturing. Ports ranked third nationally on turnaround time adjusted for capacity. Electricity outages were about four per cent lower than the average for large states and transmission and distribution losses were around three per cent below the peer group average.

Tamil Nadu’s export oriented industrial base was cited as a differentiator, with exports at 36 per cent of gross state domestic product (GSDP), above the large state average. The state had the second highest number of Atal Tinkering Labs, reflecting investment in innovation and technical education. Digital investor facilitation systems such as Biz Buddy and the Guidance Tamil Nadu Investor Facilitation Portal were noted for improving conversion of memoranda and resolving investor grievances within 30 days.

The report highlighted road and rail connectivity linking Chennai, Coimbatore and Hosur and networks serving the ports of Chennai and Kamarajar. Industrial parks by SIPCOT and SIDCO were described as well planned and attractive to multinational manufacturers. The state’s electric vehicle policy has been implemented on the ground, and Tamil Nadu was one of five states accounting for around 85 per cent of India’s foreign direct investment inflows. It scored well on environmental resilience with air quality about 22 per cent better than the large state average, but financial health remained the weakest pillar with interest payments of 3.4 per cent of GSDP and liabilities near 31 per cent, while logistics capacity at container freight stations and inland container depots was about one third below average relative to manufacturing output.