During the last three years and as on 8^th April, 2016, 27 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been notified over an area of 3591.56 hectares. State-wise number of these SEZs and its area notified is as below:

State-wise number of SEZs and its area notified during the last three years and as on 8th April, 2016:
(Area in hectares)
Sl. No.	States	Number of Notified SEZs	Total Area Notified
1	Gujarat	2	1912.29
2	Karnataka	1	17.42
3	Kerala	5	135.80
4	Madhya Pradesh	3	103.11
5	Maharashtra	5	318.24
6	Manipur	1	10.85
7	Nagaland	1	290.00
8	Odisha	1	500.15
9	Tamil Nadu	3	238.95
10	Telangana	3	13.12
11	Uttar Pradesh	2	51.63
	TOTAL	27	3591.56

The Government, on the basis of inputs/suggestions received from stakeholders on the policy and operational framework of the SEZ Scheme, periodically reviews the policy and operational framework of SEZs and takes necessary measures so as to facilitate speedy and effective implementation of SEZ policy.  In order to operationlise the non-functional SEZs, review meetings with the Development Commissioners of SEZs are held regularly. Steps for time bound delivery of services, digitization and online processing of various activities involving Developers and Units have been taken.   Also Road Shows in various cities of the country to give wide publicity to SEZs have been organised.  Further, land is a State subject and land for SEZs is procured as per the policy and procedures of the respective State Governments.  The Board of Approval for SEZs only considers those proposals, which have been duly recommended by the State Government.

Since SEZs Act, 2005 and Rules, 2006  were notified in June, 2005 and February, 2006 respectively,  approvals have been granted for setting up of 10 SEZs for Agro and Food Processing sector having the share of 2.15% to the total number of SEZs.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

Land procurement for SEZs hinges on State land policy, with central approval contingent on State recommendation. The statement explains that land for SEZs is procured under State Government policy because land is a State subject, and the central Board of Approval considers only those SEZ proposals duly recommended by the State Government; it also lists administrative measures-policy reviews, Development Commissioner review meetings, time bound service delivery, digitisation, online processing and promotional road shows-adopted to operationalise SEZs and facilitate implementation.