Overview
The Chandler Governance Group released its 2026 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) on 18 August 2026 from Bangkok, noting that India's overall score rose for the second straight year after a three‑year decline spanning 2021‑2024. India now ranks 76th globally, retaining its position as South Asia's top performer.
Pillar Performance
India leads the South Asian region in five of the seven CGGI pillars – Leadership & Foresight, Robust Laws & Policies, Strong Institutions, Attractive Marketplace, and Global Influence & Reputation – with scores well above every other South Asian country, although each of these five pillars has declined since 2021. Bangladesh tops the region in Financial Stewardship, while Sri Lanka leads in Helping People Rise. Nepal is the only South Asian nation that has improved its overall score since 2021.
The steepest decline in India's pillar scores occurred in Leadership & Foresight. Conversely, Helping People Rise – which measures outcomes such as education, health and economic opportunity – is the only pillar that has improved for India since 2021, delivering the largest regional gain and continuing its upward trajectory between 2025 and 2026.
Financial Stewardship displayed a different pattern: the pillar declined every year from 2021 to 2025, but rose for the first time between 2025 and 2026, representing India's largest pillar‑level gain in that period and serving as the primary driver of the overall score recovery. Despite this gain, India's global rank in Financial Stewardship fell from 93rd in 2025 to 104th in 2026, reflecting improvements by other countries.
Regional Context
Since 2021, the Asia‑Pacific region has recorded the world’s sharpest governance improvement, although South Asia has lagged behind the broader trend. In 2026, 79 % of the region’s governments, including four of the five South Asian countries, posted higher scores year‑on‑year.
CGGI Tool and Commentary
The CGGI is described as a practical diagnostic tool designed by practitioners for governments to benchmark performance and identify capability gaps, drawing on peer evidence worldwide. Dinesh Naidu, Director (Knowledge) at the Chandler Governance Group, stated: “India's data this year points to slight recovery, but also to where that recovery is uneven. The CGGI's value lies in making that distinction visible, showing governments not just how they compare to others, but where their own progress is concentrated and where it still needs to be built.”
Access to Full Report
The complete 2026 Index, including country profiles, pillar scores and historical comparisons, is available at https://chandlergovernmentindex.com/.
Media Contact
Kiara Kijburana – kiara.kijburana@chandlergovernance.com
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