India’s ranking in the ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’ is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following has declared that ranking?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) World Bank
The World Bank Group published the Ease of Doing Business ranking in its annual Doing Business report. In the 2016 edition, released in October 2015, it ranked India 130th out of 189 economies.
- ✓ (c) The ranking came from the World Bank Group's Doing Business report, which measured business regulations for local firms in 190 economies. The 2016 edition placed India 130th of 189, up from 142nd.
- ✗ (b) The World Economic Forum publishes the Global Competitiveness Report, a different index, not the Ease of Doing Business ranking.
- ✗ (a) The OECD does not compile the Ease of Doing Business ranking.
- ✗ (d) The WTO deals with trade rules and disputes; it does not rank countries on ease of doing business.
- • Since then The World Bank Group discontinued the Doing Business report on 16 September 2021 after data irregularities were found in the 2018 and 2020 editions. The ranking is no longer published; the answer stands as of the exam year.
Remember · The Ease of Doing Business ranking was issued by the World Bank Group (Doing Business report; discontinued in September 2021).
Sources
- World Bank press release: India Improves its Ranking in Doing Business 2016 (archived copy) ↗ “India ranks at 130 out of 189 economies in the world in this year’s report (ranked 142 in Doing Business 2015), marking a significant shift in trend after several years of decline in ranking.”
- World Bank Group statement: World Bank Group to Discontinue Doing Business Report (16 September 2021) ↗ “World Bank Group management has taken the decision to discontinue the Doing Business report.”
- World Bank Group, Doing Business (archive) ↗ · reference work “Doing Business measured business regulations for local firms in 190 economies.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2016, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·