In a significant move for cooperative federalism, the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog had representatives from all 28 States and five Union Territories, marking the first time Chief Ministers from every State attended the meeting. Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, the meeting focused on “Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat@2047.” Alongside Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, and Administrators of Union Territories also joined, making it a highly inclusive gathering of the country’s federal leadership.
PM Modi highlighted the importance of close collaboration between the Centre and States to achieve the vision of a developed India by 2047, emphasizing that Viksit Bharat’s goal must be a collective effort from States down to villages. He underlined India’s robust economic performance amidst global uncertainties, advocating for self-reliance and the adoption of global best practices, especially in renewable energy.
The Prime Minister drew attention to India’s demographic advantage, with nearly 70 crore Indians under 25 years old, urging States to transform this demographic dividend into a development asset through education, skilling, and capacity-building initiatives. He encouraged States to capitalize on recent trade agreements to create opportunities for youth and MSMEs, as well as attract investments from partner countries.
PM Modi also stressed the significance of women-led development, calling on states to double the number of Lakhpati Didis from 3 crore to 6 crore. He emphasized the promotion of One District One Product (ODOP) schemes, exploration of opportunities in defense manufacturing, and the need to address challenges like drug abuse and cyber fraud. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of water conservation, natural farming, district-level monitoring of development indicators, and the setting of clear 100-day and five-year targets to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
