Bhubaneswar: Odisha figures in top three happiest places among large states in India, according to HR firm HappyPlus Consulting’s happiness survey.
While Himachal is the happiest place in the country, Maharashtra has bagged the second position, Odisha and Kerala third and fourth positions respectively. Uttar Pradesh has come last, at 20th place.
It is a huge leap for Odisha since last year when it was ranked 16th.
The overall rankings are based on various indices on the life ladder like positive and negative impacts, social support, freedom of choice, generosity, perception of corruption which are taken alongside certain objective data on prosperity per capita net state domestic product, consumer price index (CPI), literacy rate, healthy life expectancy at birth, multidimensional poverty index and health index, The Week reported.
Similarly, Goa, Mizoram and Tripura have the top three positions among smaller states with Arunachal Pradesh ranking last (eighth). Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Delhi are the top three happiest places among union territories while Dadra and Nagar Haveli occupies the last position.
Notably, India’s position in the World Happiness Report 2023 had improved from 136 to 126, although it is still behind its neighbouring countries such as Nepal, China, and Bangladesh.
