Ease of Living Index
Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Important Reports, Indices and Surveys · Topic 18.10
The Ease of Living Index (EoLI) is an assessment tool of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, that ranks Indian cities on the quality of life of citizens, the strength of the local economy and sustainability. The first round in 2018 covered 111 cities and ranked Pune first. The Ease of Living Index 2020, announced on 4 March 2021, ranked Bengaluru first among cities with a population above one million with a score of 66.70, followed by Pune and Ahmedabad, and ranked Shimla first among smaller cities. It ran together with the Municipal Performance Index, in which Indore and the New Delhi Municipal Council led.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Important Reports, Indices and Surveys
At a Glance
- Publisher Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- Rounds 2018 and 2020
- 2020 toppers Bengaluru (over 1 million), Shimla (below 1 million)
- Pillars Quality of life, economic ability, sustainability
- Companion index Municipal Performance Index
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Important Reports, Indices and Surveys
Where Does It Fit?
This topic moves the macro to urban governance. It sits between the SDG index and the financial inclusion index, as another example of a ranking that encourages states and cities to compete on outcomes. Previous topic: NITI Aayog with MoSPI and UN in India First edition December 2018 Latest verified 2023-24 (July 2024) India…">Sustainable Development Goals India Index. Next topic: Financial Inclusion Index (Reserve Bank of India).
How Does the Ease of Living Index Work?
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To measure how well cities serve citizens and to guide urban planning, with a focus on outcomes and not just spending |
| Pillars | Quality of Life, Economic Ability and Sustainability, each with several categories and indicators |
| Quality of Life | Education, health, housing, water supply, sanitation, mobility, safety and security, recreation |
| Economic Ability | Economic opportunities, employment and the economic clusters of the city |
| Sustainability | Green spaces, energy consumption, air quality and resilience |
| Citizen perception | A Citizen Perception Survey is a part of the score, in which residents rate services |
What Do the Rounds Show?
- 2018: The first Ease of Living Index covered 111 cities. Pune ranked first, followed by Navi Mumbai and Greater Mumbai
- 2020 round: The Ease of Living Index 2020 was announced on 4 March 2021 and covered 111 cities
- Over one million: Bengaluru ranked first with 66.70, Pune second with 66.27 and Ahmedabad third with 64.87, as reported
- Below one million: Shimla ranked first, as reported
- Municipal Performance Index 2020: A separate index with 20 sectors and 100 indicators. Indore ranked first among large municipalities, and the New Delhi Municipal Council led the smaller category, as reported
- Newer rounds: No later round of the Ease of Living Index was verified as of November 2026, so MoHUA releases should be checked
- Link to policy: The index was meant to complement Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT, which sought to improve city services. Some of these missions have ended or changed, so current status should be checked
- Verification: Scores and ranks are as reported from the 2021 announcement
What Else Should You Remember?
- Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business: The Ease of Doing Business Index was a World Bank ranking of the business climate. The World Bank stopped it in 2021 after data irregularities, and India had ranked 63rd in the 2020 report, so the two should not be confused
- Smart Cities Mission: Launched in 2015 to develop 100 cities, with citizen-focused infrastructure. Its status has changed, so readers should check the current position
- AMRUT: The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation focuses on water supply, sewerage and green spaces in cities
- Urban population: According to the 2011 Census about 31 per cent of Indians lived in towns. The next Census is expected to update this figure
- Liveability indices abroad: Global rankings such as the Economist Intelligence Unit Global Liveability Index judge world cities, while the Indian index judges Indian cities
- Municipal finance: Local bodies depend on grants from the Finance Commission and the state, as in Finance Commission (15th/16th Finance Commission Recommendations)
- Constitutional base: The 74th Constitutional Amendment of 1992 gave urban local bodies constitutional status and the Twelfth Schedule lists their functions
- State Ease of Living: Some states have created their own city rankings, and several city administrations have used the data to plan
- Criticism: Rankings depend on data submitted by cities and on survey samples, so they may not show differences in neighbourhoods
- Common mistakes: Writing that Pune topped the 2020 round or that the World Bank runs the Ease of Living Index
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Publisher: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- Pillars: Quality of Life, Economic Ability, Sustainability
- Toppers: Pune in 2018 and Bengaluru in 2020 among large cities
- Companion: Municipal Performance Index
- Common errors: Confusing it with Ease of Doing Business
As an analytical point, city rankings are useful when they lead to action on drains, transport and clean air. Better data on urban poverty and on informal workers would make such rankings more complete.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Toppers City ranks
- Publisher MoHUA
- Urban Governance theme
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Financial Inclusion Index of the Reserve Bank of India. Next topic: Financial Inclusion Index (Reserve Bank of India).
Key People and Terms
- EoLI Ease of Living Index
- MPI Municipal Performance Index here, not poverty index
- Liveability Quality of life in a city
- Citizen perception Residents views on services
- ULB Urban local body
- Twelfth Schedule List of municipal functions
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Publisher: MoHUA.
- 2018 topper: Pune; 2020 topper: Bengaluru.
- Small city topper in 2020: Shimla.
- Pillars: three.
- Companion index: Municipal Performance Index.
Do Not Confuse With
- Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business City life versus business climate
- EoLI and Municipal Performance Index Citizen outcomes versus municipal service delivery
- Smart Cities Mission and EoLI A mission versus a ranking
Memory Hook
Pune first in 2018, Bengaluru in 2020, Shimla small and sweet.
Mains Angle
Mains questions ask about urban governance and liveability. These points give a balanced frame.
- Value Outcome-based urban planning
- Gap Data and funds
- Way Stronger urban local bodies
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“What is the Ease of Living Index and how can it improve urban governance in India?”
How to Answer
- Tool Ranking on three pillars.
- Use Guides planning.
- Limits Data and funds.
- Way Stronger local bodies.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ease of Living Index?
The Ease of Living Index is an assessment by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs that ranks Indian cities on quality of life, economic ability and sustainability, with a citizen perception survey as one input. Rounds were held in 2018 and 2020 and it is meant to guide city planning.
Who publishes the Ease of Living Index?
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, publishes the Ease of Living Index and the companion Municipal Performance Index. It is not published by the World Bank, which ran the separate Ease of Doing Business report that was stopped in 2021.
Which city topped the Ease of Living Index 2020?
Bengaluru topped the Ease of Living Index 2020 among cities with more than one million people, with a score of 66.70, followed by Pune and Ahmedabad. Shimla topped the category of cities with a population below one million, as reported from the March 2021 announcement.
What are the pillars of the Ease of Living Index?
The three pillars are Quality of Life, covering education, health, housing, water, sanitation, mobility and safety, Economic Ability, covering jobs and economic opportunities, and Sustainability, covering green space, energy and air quality. A citizen perception survey adds residents views to the score.
What is the latest status of the Ease of Living Index?
The latest round verified is the Ease of Living Index 2020, announced on 4 March 2021. No later round was verified as of November 2026, so the website of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs should be checked for any new assessment or revised framework.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Ease of Living Index is published by the World Bank.
It is published by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
2 Bengaluru ranked first in the Ease of Living Index 2020 among large cities.
Pune was second.
3 Pune topped the first Ease of Living Index in 2018.
The round covered 111 cities.
4 Quality of Life is one of the pillars.
The others are Economic Ability and Sustainability.
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