Should the country emulate the Nitish Kumar model of development? Or a Shivraj Singh Chauhan or a Oommen Chandy model? Going by the growth in per capita income, why not have a Maharashtra or Prithiviraj Chavan growth model? The chart shows the growth in per capita net state  domestic product at constant (2004-05) prices for the fiscal year  2011-12 of the 15 fastest growing states. Delhi and Union Territories  have been kept out of the reckoning.

The chart shows that, during the past year, Bihar has  been the most successful in improving the living standards of its  residents. It was followed by Madhya Pradesh, while Kerala at number  three was a surprise. Per capita income in Bihar is low, so it has the  advantage of a lower base. But Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa and Sikkim have  very high levels of per capita income.

The much-vaunted Gujarat model of development saw its per capita growth rank at number 11, a bit above Andhra Pradesh and Tamil  Nadu. And even West Bengal’s growth in per capita income was well above  the national average.

In absolute numbers, however, growth in real per capita income in 2011-12 was the highest in Goa at Rs.8,157, followed by Maharashtra at Rs.5,216. Sikkim, with a growth of Rs.4,509 in real per capita income, was third. Kerala, with growth of Rs.4,486, and Haryana, with growth of Rs.3,787, made it to the top five.