Jharkhand

Jharkhand, carved out of Bihar in the year 2000, is highly rich in minerals. It also is a heavily industrialized state.

Yet, for long, the state has been dogged by corruption at all levels of government, semi-government and private sector establishments. TI-India categorises Jharkhand as 'Highly Corrupt.'

Shibu Soren, the new chief minister of the state, is now faced with the gargantuan challenge of checking corruption and helping the state grow faster than ever.

Kerala

For long the economy of Kerala, one of India's most literate states, had been financed by petro-dollars sent by people from the state working overseas, especially in the Persian Gulf region.

The state has been going through a series of problems trying to raise the level industrialisation, usher in a free market economy, attract higher foreign direct investment, and establish a healthy services sector. The domineering presence of Leftist unions has to an extent curbed Kerala's ambitions.

Yet, the standard of living in Kerala is among the best in India. The state has a very well developed tourism, banking and finance, and communications sectors. Yet it suffers from a high level of joblessness fuelling corruption. It has thus been categorized as 'Highly Corrupt.'

V S Achuthanandan is the state chief minister.

Orissa

Mineral-rich Orissa is now attracting foreign direct investment and mega projects like no other state. The state is blessed with heavy iron ore deposits and many a steel plant.

Despite the high level of poverty in the state, Orissa has been in the forefront of privatization and economic reforms.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's Orissa, however, is hardly free from corruption and is said to be 'Highly Corrupt.'

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh, rich in agricultural and services sector also has a vibrant industrialised economy.

A vibrant information technology sector has seen the state emerge as one of India's largest exporters of IT and software services. This sector has also generated large-scale employment in the urban areas of the state.

But for Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy things aren't all rosy. . . especially since he needs to curb the rampant corruption in the state that has been bracketed as 'Moderately Corrupt.'

Haryana

Haryana has emerged as a major hub for IT and BPO firms. It is also a huge manufacturing base for many a global company, having received a massive amount of foreign direct investment.

The state's business-friendly policies have seen it grow on all parameters of economic development. It is also one of India's richest states.

Transparency International India, however, categorises it as 'Moderately Corrupt.' If corruption were to be reduced in the state, its prosperity and growth would be electrifying. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will, apart from industrialisation, have to now focus on this aspect of human development too.