{"id":103573,"date":"2026-05-15T16:45:57","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T11:15:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=103573"},"modified":"2026-05-15T16:45:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T11:15:57","slug":"leads-2025-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/leads-2025-report\/","title":{"rendered":"LEADS 2025 Report, Objectives, Key Features, Categorisation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry released the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2025 Report during the LEAPS Awards 2025 ceremony in New Delhi. The report assesses logistics performance across States and Union Territories and aims to improve logistics efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and strengthen India\u2019s global competitiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>About LEADS<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) is a benchmarking framework launched in 2018 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to evaluate logistics performance across States and Union Territories.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The framework assesses logistics infrastructure, logistics services, regulatory systems, institutional mechanisms, and operational efficiency through objective and perception-based indicators.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The report also promotes competitive and cooperative federalism by encouraging States to improve logistics performance through targeted reforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LEADS 2025\u00a0 is the seventh edition of the report.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Objectives of LEADS 2025 Report<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LEADS 2025 aims to strengthen India\u2019s logistics ecosystem and improve national competitiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The framework helps States identify gaps in logistics infrastructure and service delivery.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The report promotes data-driven and evidence-based logistics reforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The framework supports reduction in logistics costs and improvement in supply chain efficiency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The report encourages multimodal transport integration and seamless freight movement.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The framework supports implementation of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The report aims to improve ease of doing business and export competitiveness.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Key Features of LEADS 2025<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LEADS 2025 marks an important evolution in India\u2019s logistics assessment framework.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The report introduced a more rigorous and refined evaluation methodology compared to previous editions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nearly 59% weightage was assigned to objective and measurable indicators.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The framework shifted from a three-tier classification to a four-tier categorisation system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The revised structure enables more nuanced assessment of logistics performance across different stages of development.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Four-Tier Categorisation under LEADS 2025<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To better reflect the varying levels of logistics development across the country, LEADS 2025 introduced a four-tier classification framework.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Exemplars<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exemplars are the best-performing States and Union Territories demonstrating sustained excellence in logistics infrastructure, policy support, service delivery, and regulatory efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tamil Nadu emerged as the Exemplar among Coastal States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uttar Pradesh emerged as the Exemplar among Landlocked States. The State had consistently remained in the \u201cAchiever\u201d category from 2022 to 2024 before moving to the highest category in 2025. The Uttar Pradesh Warehousing and Logistics Policy 2022 played an important role in strengthening the State\u2019s logistics ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mizoram emerged as the Exemplar among North-Eastern States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delhi emerged as the Exemplar among <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/union-territories\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Union Territories<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>High Performers<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High Performers are States and Union Territories demonstrating strong and consistent logistics performance across major indicators.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gujarat, Kerala, and Maharashtra were categorised as High Performers among Coastal States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Haryana, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar were categorised as High Performers among Landlocked States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tripura and Meghalaya were categorised as High Performers among North-Eastern States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry were categorised as High Performers among Union Territories.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Accelerators<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accelerators are States and Union Territories that have shown strong improvement momentum and reform orientation in recent years.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Goa, and Karnataka were categorised as Accelerators among Coastal States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punjab, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh were categorised as Accelerators among Landlocked States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Assam were categorised as Accelerators among North-Eastern States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Chandigarh, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep were categorised as Accelerators among Union Territories.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Growth Seekers<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Growth Seekers are States and Union Territories that are still at a foundational stage of logistics ecosystem development.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Bengal was categorised as a Growth Seeker among Coastal States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rajasthan was categorised as a Growth Seeker among Landlocked States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sikkim was categorised as a Growth Seeker among North-Eastern States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Andaman and Nicobar Islands was categorised as a Growth Seeker among Union Territories.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>India\u2019s Export Performance and Logistics<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduction in logistics costs is considered essential for achieving long-term export competitiveness. The Government linked logistics reforms with India\u2019s growing export performance.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India achieved <\/span><b>record exports worth USD 863 billion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during the financial year ending March 31, 2026.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Services exports recorded growth of <\/span><b>nearly 8.5 to 9%.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Overall exports increased by nearly 5% <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">despite global economic uncertainties.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Government has set an <\/span><b>aspirational export target of USD 1 trillion for the current year.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Government Measures to Improve Logistics Efficiency<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Government has introduced several reforms and initiatives to modernise logistics systems, reduce logistics costs, and improve ease of doing business.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>PM GatiShakti National Master Plan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, launched in 2021, promotes integrated infrastructure planning by improving coordination between roads, railways, ports, airports, and logistics networks to strengthen multimodal connectivity and reduce transportation delays.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>National Logistics Policy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, launched in 2022, aims to reduce logistics costs, improve supply-chain efficiency, enhance multimodal transport integration, and create a technology-driven logistics ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/goods-and-services-tax\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Goods and Services Tax<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, implemented in 2017, created a unified national market by reducing interstate barriers, minimising check-post delays, and improving the efficiency of freight movement across States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Jan Vishwas Act<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, enacted in 2023, decriminalised nearly 1,000 minor offences to improve ease of doing business and reduce regulatory burdens on industries and logistics operators.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Government has reduced around 42,000 compliance burdens through <\/span><b>regulatory simplification and procedural reforms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to improve business efficiency and operational ease.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increasing <\/span><b>digitisation of governance processes, online approvals, database integration, and use of videoconferencing <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in official processes and trade negotiations are improving transparency, coordination, and operational efficiency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Continuous investments in roads, railways, freight corridors, ports, airports, warehousing, and logistics infrastructure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are strengthening India\u2019s logistics ecosystem and improving supply-chain connectivity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Challenges in India\u2019s Logistics Sector<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite recent reforms and infrastructure expansion, India\u2019s logistics sector continues to face several structural and operational challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>High Logistics Costs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Logistics costs in India remain relatively high at around 7.97 per cent of <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/gross-domestic-product-gdp\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Gross Domestic Product<\/strong><\/a>, affecting industrial competitiveness and export efficiency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Overdependence on Road Transport<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Freight movement remains heavily dependent on road transport, while railways and waterways continue to remain underutilised despite being more economical and energy-efficient.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Weak Multimodal Connectivity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Inadequate integration between roads, railways, ports, airports, and inland waterways reduces overall logistics efficiency and increases transit delays.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Insufficient Warehousing and Cold-Chain Infrastructure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Gaps in modern warehousing and cold-chain facilities continue to affect agricultural supply chains and contribute to post-harvest losses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Poor Last-Mile Connectivity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Rural, hilly, and remote regions continue to face weak last-mile connectivity, leading to transportation bottlenecks and delivery delays.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fragmented Logistics Ecosystem<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The dominance of small and unorganised logistics operators reduces coordination, standardisation, and operational efficiency across the sector.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Regulatory and Procedural Bottlenecks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Complex regulations and procedural delays continue to increase transaction costs despite recent reforms and digitisation initiatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Uneven Technology Adoption<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Limited adoption of digital technologies, automation, and advanced logistics systems affects cargo tracking, forecasting, and supply-chain management efficiency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Shortage of Skilled Workforce<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Inadequate availability of skilled manpower in logistics analytics, warehousing, transport planning, and supply-chain management affects sectoral modernisation and productivity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Way Forward<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reduce logistics costs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to improve export competitiveness and strengthen India\u2019s integration with global value chains.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Accelerate multimodal connectivity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to ensure seamless and cost-efficient freight movement across transport networks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Increase investment in logistics infrastructure, warehousing, cold chains, and freight corridors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to improve supply-chain efficiency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Expand digital logistics systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, automation, and real-time tracking to enhance operational efficiency and transparency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthen last-mile connectivity and rural logistics networks <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for balanced regional development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Simplify regulatory procedures and compliance systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to improve ease of doing business.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promote <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/public-private-partnership\/\" target=\"_blank\">Public-Private Partnerships<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to encourage investment, innovation, and technology adoption.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Expand skill development<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in logistics, warehousing, and supply-chain management to build a skilled workforce.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Encourage green and sustainable logistics practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to ensure long-term resilience and efficiency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Align State-level logistics reforms with PM GatiShakti and the National Logistics Policy <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for coordinated implementation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LEADS 2025 Report evaluates logistics performance across Indian States and UTs, highlighting rankings, reforms, challenges, and measures to improve connectivity and exports.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":103580,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[7555],"class_list":{"0":"post-103573","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-leads-2025-report","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103573"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":103605,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103573\/revisions\/103605"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}