Fiscal Health Index 2026

• On March 11, NITI Aayog released the second annual edition of the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026 in New Delhi.

• NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Suman Bery and Chief Executive Officer Nidhi Chhibber released the report in the presence of senior officials.

• The Fiscal Health Index has been developed as a data-driven framework to assess the fiscal performance and financial stability of Indian states.

• The index is designed to evaluate fiscal soundness, guide policy reforms, and promote evidence-based fiscal policymaking across the states.

• The report highlights the significant role played by state governments within India's fiscal architecture, accounting for approximately one-third of the country's total government debt.

• In its second edition, the index has been expanded to include ten North-Eastern and Himalayan states, thereby making the assessment more inclusive and representative.