India's 30 most competitive cities

Cities are the economic powerhouses of a country. Competitiveness, productivity and prosperity of these cities are the key to economic success.  

The India City Competitiveness index ranks cities with a view of establishing 'high road' strategies for sustainable growth of cities.

In India, Tier-2 and tier-3 cities have progressed significantly offering an optimistic outlook for the country, says the report by Institute for Competitiveness.

The cities listed in the Index are also the most livable and desirable for work, play and learn.

Take a look at the 30 most competitive cities in India...

1. New Delhi
Score: 69.732

The capital of the country, New Delhi is the centre of governance, with an excellent physical infrastructure, best communication services, large base of talent capital and maximum population, says the report by Institute for Competitiveness.

Factor conditions: 70.99
Demand conditions: 74.01
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 82.87
Related & supporting industry: 54.64

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2. Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Score: 67.856

Mumbai, the financial hub of India has sophisticated infrastructure and has attracted innovative talent. It has an excellent and integrated communication network and a good business environment.

Factor conditions: 67.84
Demand conditions: 78.58
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 79.45
Related & supporting industry: 56.25

Competitiveness is measured in terms of four broad parameters: Factor conditions (financial, physical, communication, administrative, innovation and human capacity), demand conditions (demographic and income demographics), Strategy and rivalry (competition intensity and rivalry of firms, business incentives) and lastly related and supporting industries (supplier sophistication and institutional support).

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3. Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
Score: 62.323

Chennai ranks the highest in innovation with a competitive second place in business environment. It is best in providing institutional support among all the southern cities, having excellent physical infrastructure.

Factor conditions: 62.37
Demand conditions: 63.57
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 67.59
Related & supporting industry: 57.30

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4. Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)
Score: 61.782

An great city holding the highest rank in the related and supporting industry criteria, diversity of firms, innovation and infrastructure.

Factor conditions: 63.13
Demand conditions: 59.71
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 62.57
Related & supporting industry: 60.24

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5. Kolkata (West Bengal)
Score: 61.464

An important financial centre, the city has a good average on all facto conditions. It ranks high on firm strategy and institutional support but has performed dismally in terms of income distribution.

Factor conditions: 62.00
Demand conditions: 60.29
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 66.50
Related & supporting industry: 57.27

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6. Gurgaon (Haryana)
Score: 61.167

This city has strengths accompanied by several weaknesses. It is among the top three in income distribution, supplier sophistication and business incentives.

Factor conditions: 61.45
Demand conditions: 61.41
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 71.45
Related & supporting industry: 52.33

...

7.  Bengaluru (Karnataka)
Score: 61.100

The IT capital of the country, Bangalore, is among the top three in physical infrastructure, communication network, demographics and highest in income distribution.

Factor conditions: 62.08
Demand conditions: 70.07
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 62.40
Related & supporting industry: 53.11

...

8. Noida (Uttar Pradesh)
Score: 60.406

Noida, the high tech city of Uttar Pradesh is ranked 8th, rising 3 positions higher compared to 11th in 2011.

A flourishing city, it ranks high in human capacity, administrative efficiency, context for firm and strategy, and institutional support.

Factor conditions: 59.76
Demand conditions: 53.51
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 72.17
Related & supporting industry: 56.16

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9. Pune (Maharashtra)
Score: 59.854

The industrial and education hub, often touted as the Knowledge city of India is an average performer in most of the categories with the exception of high scores in human capacity, innovation, competition intensity and diversity of firms dimensions.

Factor conditions: 60.03
Demand conditions: 66.12
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 60.89
Related & supporting industry: 54.99

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10. Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
Score: 58.036

A highly desirable and livable city, it has slipped one position but continues to be a strong financial city with high scores for talent, competition intensity and diversity of firms, related and supporting industry dimensions.

Factor conditions: 58.23
Demand conditions: 60.78
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 59.05
Related & supporting industry: 55.26

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11. Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Score: 56.942

Nagpur has risen to the 11th position in comparison to its 13th position in 2011.

Factor conditions: 56.93
Demand conditions: 57.77
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 60.36
Related & supporting industry: 53.73

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12. Chandigarh (Haryana)
Score: 56.842

The city cum union territory Chandigarh has shown remarkable improvement and has risen by three ranks to be ranked at 12th in the 2012 index.

Factor conditions: 59.75
Demand conditions: 57.43
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 54.88
Related & supporting industry: 53.41

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13. Jaipur (Rajasthan)
Score: 56.263

The pink city which held the 10th spot for two consecutive years has now slipped to 13th position. 

Factor conditions: 56.58
Demand conditions: 62.07
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 56.66
Related & supporting industry: 51.96

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14. Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)
Score: 55.955

Coimbatore is the second city after Chennai to be listed among the top 20.

Factor conditions: 55.06
Demand conditions: 52.81
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 60.76
Related & supporting industry: 55.42

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15. Kochi
Score: 55.884

All the three cities in Kerala, namely Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode have slid in their ranks.

Factor conditions: 55.16
Demand conditions: 56.45
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 59.11
Related & supporting industry: 54.13

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16. Surat (Gujarat)
Score: 55.726

The city known for its diamonds, Surat, has dropped five places and holds the 16th rank on the city competitiveness index 2012.

Factor conditions: 55.32
Demand conditions: 60.36
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 56.95
Related & supporting industry: 52.61

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17. Nashik (Maharashtra)
Score: 55.651

Nashik has improved its ranking to secure the 17th position.

Factor conditions: 54.39
Demand conditions: 60.56
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 55.60
Related & supporting industry: 54.77

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18. Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Score: 55.637

Indore moved two places upwards and is set at the 18th position.

Factor conditions: 59.71
Demand conditions: 54.03
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 55.54
Related & supporting industry: 50.17

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19. Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)
Score: 55.434

The cities in the list have the capacity to succeed if they deploy the right strategy that capitaliseson their resources, flaws and limits, says the report.

Factor conditions: 56.21
Demand conditions: 57.36
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 56.91
Related & supporting industry: 51.86

...

20. Kozhikode (Kerala)
Score: 55.212

Kozhikode is the third city from Kerala to be listed among the top 50 cities.

Factor conditions: 54.34
Demand conditions: 57.13
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 60.38
Related & supporting industry: 51.31

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21. Mysore
Score: 55.118

The second largest city of Karnataka is positioned at the 21st rank and has moved up 4 positions from 2011.

Factor conditions: 58.79
Demand conditions: 53.47
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 53.99
Related & supporting industry: 51.14

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22. Bhubaneswar (Odisha)
Score: 54.642

Bhubaneswar, which was ranked 35th rank in the city competitiveness index 2011 and is now placed in the 22nd position, showing notable progress.

Factor conditions: 58.55
Demand conditions: 52.97
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 54.52
Related & supporting industry: 49.50

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23. Vadodara (Gujarat)
Score: 54.627

Vadodara has slipped from the 16th rank in city competitiveness index 2011 to 23rd rank in 2012.

Factor conditions: 54.44
Demand conditions: 56.07
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 57.02
Related & supporting industry: 52.16

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24. Rajkot (Gujarat)
Score: 54.607

Rajkot has fallen to 24th position.

Factor conditions: 54.01
Demand conditions: 58.19
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 56.48
Related & supporting industry: 51.92

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25. Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
Score: 54.584

Factor conditions: 56.10
Demand conditions: 57.62
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 52.01
Related & supporting industry: 52.40

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26. Madurai

Madurai has jumped two positions upwards to be ranked at 26.

Factor conditions: 53.48
Demand conditions: 53.86
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 60.15
Related & supporting industry: 52.28

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27. Bhopal         
Score: 54.322

These cities may seem to be lacking in some fundamentals but they have just embarked on their journey to build the city of the 21st century and therefore open to new ideas and external investment, says the report by report by Institute for Competitiveness.

Factor conditions: 57.49
Demand conditions: 53.10
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 54.21
Related & supporting industry: 50.07

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28. Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
Score: 54.318

Kanpur, one of the most populous cities of Uttar Pradesh has slipped one position down and is placed on 28th rank.

Factor conditions: 56.43
Demand conditions: 52.14
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 52.12
Related & supporting industry: 54.01

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29. Faridabad (Haryana)
Score: 54.097

The most promising city in this category seems to be Faridabad, which holds 29th rank in the city competitiveness index.

Factor conditions: 56.41
Demand conditions: 54.49
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 52.96
Related & supporting industry: 51.06

30. Ludhiana (Punjab)
Score: 54.022

Ludhiana has maintained its status quo at the 30th position for the past one year.

Factor conditions: 55.21
Demand conditions: 55.96
Context for firm strategy & rivalry: 55.50
Related & supporting industry: 49.78