Manipur electric mobility has received a major national recognition, with the state being named the Best Performing State among Hilly and North-Eastern States under the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025 released by NITI Aayog. The recognition was conferred in New Delhi on September 16, 2026, highlighting Manipur’s performance in promoting electric vehicles and building an ecosystem for cleaner transportation.
Manipur electric mobility earns national recognition
The latest recognition places Manipur among the states that have made notable progress in the transition towards electric mobility. According to a state Transport Department official, the award was presented at a function held in New Delhi.
The IEMI 2025 evaluates the progress of states and Union Territories towards their electric mobility goals. The latest edition places Delhi at the top of the overall index, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka and Chandigarh in the open category. Manipur, meanwhile, was recognised separately as the best-performing state among the Hilly and North-Eastern States.
The recognition is significant because the electric mobility transition in hill and northeastern regions can involve distinct infrastructure and connectivity challenges. The award indicates that Manipur’s efforts have translated into measurable progress within the category assessed by NITI Aayog.
What the electric mobility index measures
NITI Aayog’s IEMI was introduced as a framework to track and benchmark electric mobility progress across India. The index evaluates states and UTs on a 100-point scale using 16 indicators grouped under three broad themes: Transport Electrification Progress, Charging Infrastructure Readiness, and EV Research and Innovation Status.
The framework is designed to help governments identify areas of progress as well as gaps in their electric vehicle ecosystems. It also seeks to encourage states to share successful practices and strengthen coordination around clean transportation.
The first edition, released in August 2025, used 2024 performance data. In that edition, Manipur recorded an overall IEMI score of 41 and a rank of 17. Its Charging Infrastructure Readiness score was 63, while Transport Electrification Progress stood at 29 and EV Research and Innovation Status at 35.
Charging infrastructure remains important
One notable feature of Manipur’s earlier IEMI performance was its charging infrastructure readiness. The state received a score of 100 on the EV-to-EV charger ratio indicator in the 2024 assessment. The report also recorded two charging infrastructure development initiatives and a score of 50 for building by-laws related to charging infrastructure.
The earlier NITI Aayog assessment also noted that government land would be provided free of cost to central or state agencies for setting up public charging stations until 2027. It recommended additional measures, including establishing a nodal agency for charging infrastructure, encouraging private and commercial EV adoption and considering lower electricity tariffs for charging stations.
These measures form part of the wider policy environment supporting Manipur electric mobility and could help address one of the central requirements for greater EV adoption: convenient access to charging facilities.
Policy support and EV adoption
The broader IEMI framework places importance on both actual EV adoption and the policies that support it. The 2024 report stated that 29 states and Union Territories had notified EV policies as of June 1, 2025. Such policies cover areas including demand generation, supply-side support, skills, employment and innovation.
For Manipur, the latest recognition provides a new benchmark as the state works to expand its electric vehicle ecosystem. Greater adoption will depend not only on vehicle availability but also on charging infrastructure, supportive regulations, consumer awareness, financing and the development of technical skills.
The award therefore highlights Manipur electric mobility as an evolving part of the state’s sustainable transport agenda rather than simply reflecting vehicle registrations.
A changing national EV landscape
The latest IEMI results also show that electric mobility performance is developing across different parts of India. NITI Aayog’s index is intended to provide a common framework for comparing progress while allowing states to address their own geographical and policy requirements.
The highest score in the index improved from 77 in the 2024 assessment to 84 in the 2025 edition, according to reports on the latest release. This points to continued movement in India’s electric mobility ecosystem, although individual state performance varies considerably.
For Manipur, the Hilly and North-Eastern States award offers national visibility for its progress. It also creates a platform for the state to build on existing infrastructure initiatives, improve EV adoption and strengthen research, innovation and policy support.
The recognition for Manipur electric mobility marks an important development in the state’s clean transport journey. Sustaining that progress will depend on how effectively existing initiatives are expanded and how remaining gaps in adoption, charging infrastructure and innovation are addressed in the years ahead.