Uttar Pradesh receives ‘Exemplar’ Award in LEADS 2025 Rankings

New Delhi/Lucknow, May 13 : Uttar Pradesh has achieved a major milestone on the logistics and infrastructure front by securing the highest 'Exemplar' award among landlocked states in the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2025 rankings. 

With this achievement, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the best-performing and most exemplary landlocked state in the country. 

After consistently remaining in the 'Achiever' category for the past three years (2022 to 2024), the state’s leap to the top position this year reflects its robust connectivity network and effective policy reforms.

The award was presented on Wednesday by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal during the LEADS 2025 Report and LEAPS (Logistics Excellence, Advancement & Performance Shield) 2025 Awards ceremony held at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi. 

The award was received on behalf of Uttar Pradesh by Shashank Chaudhary, Additional Chief Executive Officer of Invest UP.

Launched in 2018 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the LEADS initiative is a national benchmarking framework for assessing the logistics performance of states and Union Territories. 

The rankings evaluate key parameters such as logistics infrastructure, services, regulatory framework, and operational efficiency.

Speaking on the achievement, the ACEO of Invest UP said that in line with the vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the logistics sector has been positioned as a key pillar of the state’s one trillion-dollar economy goal. The effective implementation of the 'Uttar Pradesh Warehousing and Logistics Policy 2022' has significantly strengthened the state’s logistics ecosystem.

The state government has also developed City Logistics Master Plans in alignment with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aimed at creating an integrated and efficient logistics network. 

These initiatives are helping reduce transportation costs, improve last-mile connectivity, and enhance supply chain efficiency.

Uttar Pradesh is accelerating logistics development by promoting private investment and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models in logistics parks, warehousing facilities, rural warehouses, and cold-chain infrastructure. 

Strategic logistics hubs are being developed around expressways, freight corridors, and upcoming airports, positioning Uttar Pradesh as one of the country’s leading logistics powerhouses.