Top 5 best ranked states are categorised as STARS. Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat and Maharashtra are the STAR states in 2021.

Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh maintained numero uno position for the second year in a row. Andhra Pradesh has been a STAR performer for the fourth consecutive year. The state was ranked at the second position in 2018. It slipped to the fourth position in 2019. However, Andhra Pradesh showed splendid performance in 2020 acquiring the number one position. The state maintained its number one position in 2021 as well.

West Bengal: West Bengal climbed one step to acquire the second position in SKOCH State of Governance 2021. The state has been among the top 3 performers for the past four consecutive years. West Bengal was ranked at number one state in 2018. It slipped to the third position in 2019 and continued in that position in 2020 as well.

Odisha: Odisha entered the top five club for the first time. The state has improved its ranking consistently over the years. Odisha was ranked at the 13^th position in 2018. It improved its ranking to the 10^th position in 2019. In 2020, it climbed to 8^th position. In 2021, Odisha is ranked at the 3^rd position. Odisha has acquired the ‘STAR’ tag for the first time.

Gujarat: Gujarat has maintained its position among the STAR states for the past several years. It has consistently been among the top 5 ranked states. However, there has been volatility in its rank at the top. Gujarat was ranked at the number one position in 2019. It slipped to the second position in 2020 and slipped further to the fourth position in 2021. In 2018, Gujarat was ranked at the fifth position.

Maharashtra: Maharashtra regained its position in the top five. In 2020, Maharashtra had slipped to the seventh position from the second position achieved in 2019. In 2021, Maharashtra climbed two spot to acquire the fifth position.

Shift in Priorities of STAR States

Agriculture, Ease of Doing Business, Power & Energy, Social Justice & Security and Water gained primacy in 2021.

General Administration, health, district governance, police & safety and municipal governance take back seats.

Sectors with Increased Focus

Agriculture: The share of agriculture in the total good governance initiatives taken by STAR states rose to 5.2 per cent in 2021 from 1.3 per cent in 2020. In 2019, the share of agriculture in total good governance initiatives taken in STAR states stood at 4.7 per cent.

Ease of Doing Business: A number of innovative initiatives were taken in STAR states to improve their ranking on ease of doing business. Giving importance to ease of doing business amid pandemic is particularly important. In 2020, only 1 per cent of the total good governance initiatives taken in STAR states were related to ease of doing business. In 2021, this rose to 5.6 per cent.

Water: STAR states have been giving increasing importance to the governance initiatives related to water. In 2019, only 0.9 per cent of the total good governance initiatives taken in STAR states were related to water. This rose to 4 per cent in 2020 and increased further to 5.2 per cent in 2021.

Power & Energy: The good governance initiatives related to power and energy taken in STAR states during 2021 rose to 4.8 per cent from 3 per cent in 2020 and 3.8 per cent recorded in 2019.

Social Justice & Security: The good governance initiatives related to social justice and security gained primacy in STAR states during the COVID pandemic time. 2.8 per cent of the total goods governance initiatives taken in STAR states during 2021 were related to social justice and security. No initiative related to this sector was selected for SKOCH State of Governance report ranking in 2020 and 2019.

Education: The good governance initiatives related to education in STAR states rose to 2.4 per cent in 2021 from 0.3 per cent in 2020. However, it remained lower when compared with the pre-pandemic year 2019, when 3 per cent of the total good governance initiatives in the STAR states were related to education.

Urban Development: There has been less focus on urban development related governance initiatives during COVID time when compared with the pre-COVID period. However, in 2021, the good governance initiatives related to urban development rose to 2.4 per cent from 1.0 per cent in 2020. In 2019, it stood substantially higher at 4.3 per cent.

Sectors with Less Focus

General Administration: The good governance initiatives related to general administration declined in almost all states during the COVID pandemic. In 2019, 8.5 per cent of the total good governance initiatives taken in STAR states were related to the general administration. This declined sharply to 1.7 per cent in 2020 and fell further to 1.6 per cent in 2021.

Health: Interestingly, innovation related to the health sector also declined in STAR states. Only 0.4 per cent of the total good governance initiatives taken in STAR states during 2021 were related to health. In 2020, it stood at 2.7 per cent. Health was among the major focus areas among STAR states in 2019 when it accounted for 13.6 per cent of the total good governance initiatives.

District Governance: In the first year of the COVID pandemic the maximum focus in the STAR states was on district administration. It declined in 2021 but remained substantially higher from the pre-pandemic period. In 2020, 28.5 per cent of the total good governance initiatives in STAR states were related to district governance. This declined to 13.3 per cent in 2021. In the pre-pandemic year 2019, only 6.8 per cent of the total good governance initiatives in the STAR states were related to the district governance.

Police & Safety: Policy & safety remain among the major focus areas of governance in STAR states. However, the initiatives taken in 2021 were substantially lower than 2020. In 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic, 24.5 per cent of the total good governance initiatives in STAR states were related to police and safety. This declined to 13.7 per cent in 2021. Though police and safety related good governance initiatives declined in 2021 when compared with 2020, it remained substantially higher when compared with 2019, the pre-pandemic year.

Municipal Governance: Good governance initiatives related to municipal governance have declined consistently over the years. In 2019, 17.4 per cent of the total goods governance initiatives in STAR states were related to municipal governance. This declined to 11.7 per cent in 2020 and fell further to 8.4 per cent in 2021.

e-Governance: The good governance initiatives related to e-Governance in STAR states fell to 4 per cent in 2021 from 5.7 per cent in 2020 and 13.2 per cent recorded in 2019.

Sanitation: There has been increased focus on good governance initiatives related to sanitation during COVID pandemic period. The good governance initiatives related to sanitation in STAR states fell to 3.2 per cent in 2021 from 4.4 per cent in 2020. However, it remained substantially higher than 2019, when only 2.1 per cent of the total good governance initiatives were related to sanitation.