Context: The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has recently released the “LEADS Report 2023 (Logistics Ease Across Different State)”

LEADS Report 2023: Key Findings 

• Performance Improvement: The 5th edition of the LEADS report 2023, provides insights into improvement of logistics performance at State/UT level. 
  • A positive shift is visible in States’ performance across the key pillars viz. Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services and Operating and Regulatory Environment. 
• Digital Reforms: Reforms such as PM GatiShakti, Logistics Data Bank, Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), GST are propelling growth in India’s logistics sector.
• Logistics Policies: 23 States/UTs have also notified their State Logistics Policies to align with the National Logistics Policy.
• Status of Logistics Sector: 16 States/UTs have given industry status to logistics.

About LEADS Report

• LEADS report is an annual assessment of logistics performance across States and UTs, undertaken annually since 2018.
• Pillars for measuring logistics performance:
  • Objective assessment:
    • Support provided by State / UTs for policy & process improvement of Logistics eco- system.
    • Enablers of Logistics – stock of physical infrastructure.
  • Perception assessment:
    • Logistics Infrastructure.
    • Logistics Services.
    • Operating and Regulatory Environment.
• Origin: LEADS was conceived on the lines of the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) of World Bank in 2018.
  • While the LPI relies entirely on perception-based surveys, LEADS incorporates both perception as well as objectivity.
• LEADS 2023 Report: This report is based on a pan-India primary survey, conducted between May and July 2023 across 36 States/UTs. 

Achievements of LEADS

• Align State objective with National priorities
• Greater awareness among States on ground feedback from stakeholders for logistics improvement
• Encouraged competition among States, driving better infrastructure, services, and regulatory environment
• Raising awareness about logistics efficiency encouraging States to prioritize its improvements

Also Read: Logistics Cost in India: Assessment and Long-Term Framework: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

News Source: FE