Access (In)Equality Index 2026: Goa Ranks 1st, Andhra Pradesh 2nd & Sikkim 3rd

Access (In)Equality Index 2026: Goa Ranks 1st, Andhra Pradesh 2nd & Sikkim 3rd

General Studies Paper II: Government Policies & Interventions, Inclusive Growth

Why in News?

Recently, the Centre for New Economics Studies (CNES) released Access (In)Equality Index 2026 at O.P. Jindal Global University, evaluating all Indian states across sixty indicators.

What is Access (In)Equality Index (AEI) 2026?

• About: The Access (In)Equality Index (AEI) 2026 is a multidimensional composite benchmark, which evaluates how equitably citizens across Indian states and Union Territories reach essential public services and developmental opportunities.
  • Unlike conventional development rankings that emphasise income, GDP or per capita income, it examines whether economic resources translate into actual opportunities and improved living conditions.
• Objective: The index aims to identify unequal access to essential services and evaluate differences in state-level development.
  • Its primary objective is to examine how effectively sub-national governments translate economic resources and policy intentions into tangible, inclusive human progress. 
• Publishing Institution: The report is researched, compiled, and released by the Centre for New Economics Studies (CNES) at O.P. Jindal Global University. 
• Methodology: The index evaluates 28 states and Union Territories separately using normalized secondary government datasets.
  • The framework conceptualizes access through the 4As: Availability, Affordability, Approachability, and Appropriateness.
  • The assessment framework synthesizes 60 indicators organized across 23 broad categories within five equally weighted pillars:

• Basic Amenities: Tracks household reach to drinking water, sanitation, housing, and clean energy.
• Healthcare: Measures medical infrastructure, maternal care, and health service affordability.
• Education: Evaluates school availability, enrollment parity, and learning infrastructure.
• Socio-Economic Security: Captures financial inclusion, institutional credit, employment, insurance, and social pensions.
• Access to Justice: Assesses police capacity, judicial infrastructure, prisons, and legal aid accessibility.

• The index aggregates normalized quantitative data into a composite score ranging between 0 and 1, assigning equal weight to each foundational pillar. 
• Each of the five foundational pillars receives equal weighting, and scores are aggregated using a non-compensatory structure so severe deficits in one sector cannot be masked by surpluses in another. 
• States are categorized into Front-runners, Achievers, and Aspirants based on composite scores.
• Significance: It encourages development policies that prioritise disadvantaged populations rather than relying exclusively on aggregate economic indicators.
  • It supports cooperative federalism through knowledge-sharing, targeted central assistance and institutional collaboration.
  • The findings are relevant to the constitutional vision of equality, dignity and social justice.
  • The assessment helps to improve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Highlights of Access (In)Equality Index 2026

• State-wise Rankings: Among the 28 states, Goa secured the top rank with a composite score of 0.68, followed closely by Andhra Pradesh at 0.66 and Sikkim at 0.63.
  • Kerala (0.60), Tamil Nadu (0.57), and Telangana (0.57) rounded out the top-tier front-runners.
  • Andhra Pradesh leading all large states and ranking first nationally in socio-economic security (0.69). 
  • States in central, eastern, and parts of northeastern India—including Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Assam lag in the bottom aspirant tier.
• Major Findings: The index reveals stark geographic clustering, with 54% of score variations occurring between regions rather than within them, as southern states dominate top positions.
  • Andhra Pradesh ranked 13th in per capita income but second in the index. Its actual access score of 0.66 exceeded its income-based expected score of 0.51 by 0.15 points. 
  • Kerala (+0.07) and Himachal Pradesh (+0.06) also performed above expectations.
  • Economic growth often fails to guarantee distributive equity; prosperous states like Gujarat and Karnataka underperformed relative to their high per capita incomes. 
  • Bihar remained among the lowest-scoring states despite performing better than its income level predicted.
• Challenges: Key structural hurdles include severe rural-urban divides in clean water, sanitation, and specialized healthcare, alongside chronic shortages of medical colleges and district hospitals in populous northern states.
  • Persistent judicial delays, uneven legal aid coverage, and weak social safety nets in northeastern and eastern states restrict upward mobility for vulnerable demographics.
• Recommendations: To bridge these gaps, states must shift from pure GDP-centric growth toward distributive public investment in universal healthcare, quality schooling, and rural infrastructure.
  • The government should replicate high-variance governance models by expanding direct social protection—such as pensions, institutional credit, and insurance—while strengthening grassroots legal recourse and targeted fiscal transfers to lagging regions.

Welfare Policies Driving Goa and Andhra Pradesh’s Success

• Goa: 
  • Swayampurna Goa Programme. Launched to build village-level self-reliance, this flagship initiative deploys government officials directly to panchayats and municipalities.
    • It ensures 100% saturation of over 40 state and central schemes covering water, electricity, sanitation, and housing.
  • Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY). This universal health insurance scheme provides cashless medical coverage to resident families.
    • It works alongside the Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Cell, which funds critical treatments. 
  • Griha Aadhar and Laadli Laxmi Schemes. These programs strengthen financial and educational access for women.
    • Griha Aadhar offers monthly financial support to homemakers, while Laadli Laxmi provides financial assistance and tuition fee waivers for girls. 
  • Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS). This initiative guarantees monthly pension support for senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities, bolstering Goa’s socio-economic security score. 
  • AI-Enabled Service Delivery. Through partnerships like its DataOS initiative, Goa is integrating data analytics across departments to identify left-out beneficiaries and track welfare delivery at the panchayat level. 
• Andhra Pradesh:

• Swarna Andhra @2047 Vision. This comprehensive governance roadmap aligns state growth with ten core principles (Padi Sutralu), prioritizing zero poverty, water security, skilling, and clean living environments (Swachh Andhra).
• P4 Model (Public-Private-People Partnership). Designed to eradicate poverty, this framework pairs affluent individuals and institutions with underprivileged families to improve income, education, and living standards.
• Expanded Social Security Pensions and Welfare. The state strengthened its pension network, banking access, and insurance coverage for vulnerable groups.
  • Through the NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme, the state provides high-coverage monthly financial assistance to elderly citizens, widows, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups.
  • Under the Deepam 2.0 scheme, eligible households receive free LPG cylinders.
  • The Thalliki Vandanam initiative provides direct financial support to mothers for their school-going children.
  • The Stree Shakti scheme offers free public bus travel for women, expanding access to education and employment.
  • Through Annadata Sukhibhava (integrated with PM-KISAN), the state delivers direct input subsidies and institutional credit access to farmer households.
• Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS). Andhra Pradesh uses AI-enabled analytics and live Key Performance Indicator (KPI) dashboards from the mandal to the state level to monitor scheme delivery and fix service gaps quickly.

India’s Position in Global Equality Indices and Government Initiatives

• Positions:
  • India ranks 131st out of 145 countries with a 64.5% parity score in the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Index 2026.
    • Educational Attainment shows near-full parity at 96.6%, Economic Participation lags severely at 41.2%. 
    • Low female labor force participation and minimal senior managerial representation (13.1%) continue to suppress India’s overall global standing.
  • According to World Bank consumption data, India ranks 4th globally in income equality with a Gini score of 25.5.
    • This places India ahead of major economies like China (35.7) and the United States (41.8). 
    • Extreme poverty declined sharply to 2.3%, lifting 171 million citizens above the poverty line through targeted welfare delivery.
  • The World Inequality Lab highlights deep structural disparities in asset ownership. In India, the top 1% holds 40% of total wealth, while the top 10% captures 58% of national income.
    • Meanwhile, the bottom 50% receives just 15% of income, underscoring stark wealth concentration despite broad consumption gains.
• Initiatives:
  • The government leverages the JAM Trinity alongside Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana to open over 55 crore bank accounts. 
  • Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) eliminate leakages in food security under PMGKAY and healthcare via Ayushman Bharat. 
  • PM Vishwakarma and MUDRA loans empower informal artisans and micro-entrepreneurs.
  • To counter gender disparities, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana promote girl-child education and financial security. 
  • Programs like Stand-Up India provide ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore loans for women-led enterprises, while 26-week paid maternity leave and Women’s Reservation Act (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) aim to boost workforce and political inclusion.
  • NALSA: Free legal services to eligible sections, Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987: Institutional framework for legal aid. e-Courts Project: Technology-enabled judicial service delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. What is the Access (In)Equality Index 2026?
It measures disparities in access to essential services and socio-economic opportunities across Indian states.

2. Which state topped the Access (In)Equality Index 2026?
Goa secured the first position among 28 Indian states.

3. What score did Goa receive in the Access (In)Equality Index?
Goa received a score of 0.68 in the Access (In)Equality Index. 

4. Which state ranked second in the Access (In)Equality Index 2026?
Andhra Pradesh ranked second with a score of 0.66.

5. What are the major parameters used to calculate the Access (In)Equality Index?

Five pillars: Basic Amenities, Healthcare, Education, Socio-economic Security and Justice, assessed through 60 indicators across 23 categories.

Disclaimer: Information in this article is based on official announcements and public records. Details may evolve over time.

Also Read: NITI Aayog Indices and Rankings