Jaipur, July 20 -- Rajasthan has been placed in the 'Leading States' category in the first-ever Investment Friendliness Index report released by NITI Aayog, securing the 10th position nationally and eighth among large states - a recognition of the state's efforts to improve its investment climate and ease of doing business, officials said on Sunday. The report also recognises Rajasthan's performance in key reform areas. Among large states, Rajasthan ranked second in regulatory simplification, third in investment promotion policies and fifth in resource availability, reflecting significant progress in creating an industry-friendly ecosystem, states an official release from the CM's office. Officials said the index is particularly significant because it combines official data with feedback and experiences shared by investors, offering a more realistic assessment of the business environment across states. Officials added that the ranking validates the state's sustained efforts to simplify industrial procedures, improve governance and reduce bureaucratic hurdles. One of the key factors contributing to Rajasthan's improved performance is the strengthening of the Raj Nivesh Portal, the state's single-window clearance platform. The portal currently offers 190 services across 18 government departments, enabling investors to obtain approvals through a unified digital system. During the 2025-26 financial year, the portal received 34,704 applications. In the current financial year, more than 30,000 applications had already been submitted by June 30, of which over 17,000 had been disposed of. The overall disposal rate stood at 64%, while the disposal rate for the 11 most frequently used services reached 68%. The government also reported a significant reduction in approval timelines. The average approval period for new electricity connections has been cut from 20 days in the previous financial year to 10 days. Similarly, the approval period for tourism projects has been reduced from 22 days to 16 days, reflecting improvements in service delivery and administrative efficiency. The state government attributed these gains to a series of policy reforms undertaken over the past two-and-a-half years. More than 30 new sector-specific policies have been introduced to accelerate industrial growth and attract investment. These include policies for MSMEs, export promotion, textiles and apparel, logistics, clean energy, data centres, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), semiconductors, aerospace and defence. According to officials, the index is unique because it does not rely solely on government submissions but also incorporates direct feedback from investors across the country. The government also credited the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit for creating strong investment momentum. During the summit, investment agreements worth more than Rs 35 lakh crore were signed across multiple sectors....