NEW DELHI: Bihar topped the list of 17 states with 11.3% expansion in terms of gross state domestic product (GSDP) growth in 2017-18, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat , according to a report by ratings agency Crisil.

Ranking according to growth, inflation and fiscal deficit, Gujarat and Karnataka remained among the top three performing states in fiscal year 2018. Jharkhand, Kerala and Punjab were at the bottom of the table in terms of growth.

The agency ranked 17 states, which are non-special category states on different parameters based on Central Statistics Office data. It left out Goa as it is a small state.

West Bengal gained a foothold into the top three with an all-round turnaround - GSDP grew 9.1% on-year in fiscal year 2018 compared with 4.8% earlier, even as inflation dropped sharply to sub-4% from 7%, and fiscal deficit to 2.4% from 3%.

Defying the national trend of slowdown in GDP growth in fiscal 2018, 12 out of 17 non-special states saw faster growth in fiscal 2018 compared with the previous five years. But this growth hasn't been equitable. Low-income states have not sustained high growth long enough to meaningfully bridge the per capita income gap with the high-income states. In fact, the chasm has widened, the report said.

