India has climbed 25 places in global rankings — from 82nd to 57th — on the Market Distortions Performance Index, reflecting sustained structural and pro-competitive reforms carried out between 2010 and 2023, according to a report released by the Competere Foundation for Trade and Competition Policy. The Commerce Ministry shared the findings on Thursday, 30 July, as the report was formally launched in New Delhi.

What the Report Measures

The report, titled 'India's Next Growth Frontier: Reducing Anti-Competitive Market Distortions to Build on India's 2010–2023 Reform Progress,' evaluates market distortions across three broad pillars: property rights protection, domestic competition, and international competition. It attributes India's rank improvement to a consistent push to reduce market distortions and strengthen overall competitiveness over the 13-year period.

Key reforms cited include the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), improvements in the regulatory environment, and the modernisation of trade facilitation systems. The report also examines developments in competition policy, investment conditions, digital markets, and external regulatory barriers that affect India's participation in international trade.

Where India Needs to Go Next

Despite the progress, the report underlines that sustaining this trajectory will require an evidence-based and effects-oriented approach to competition policy. It specifically calls for a review of sector-specific investment restrictions in light of consumer welfare outcomes, and for stronger cooperation with like-minded trading partners to address regulatory barriers in international markets.

Notably, the report frames the 2010–2023 gains as a foundation rather than a destination — signalling that the next phase of reforms is critical for India to move further up the competitiveness ladder.

Launch Event and Key Voices

The report was launched at a discussion organised by the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi, in collaboration with the Competere Foundation. The inaugural session opened with welcome remarks by Dr James J. Nedumpara, Professor and Head of CTIL, who contextualised India's reform trajectory within the broader framework of global competitiveness and international trade.

Shanker Singham, Chairman and President of the Competere Foundation, presented the report's key findings. A panel discussion followed, bringing together experts from the legal, industry, academic, and policy communities to deliberate on India's reform experience, competition policy, investment climate, and emerging challenges in international trade.

Broader Significance

This comes amid heightened global scrutiny of trade and competition frameworks, with major economies reassessing market access and regulatory standards. India's jump of 25 positions on a globally benchmarked index adds quantitative weight to the government's reform narrative at a time when it is seeking deeper integration with global supply chains. The discussion at the launch also focused on the policy measures needed to enhance productivity and sustain growth in an evolving international trade environment.

The next phase of reforms — particularly in digital markets and investment liberalisation — will determine whether India can consolidate these gains or plateau at its current ranking.