Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi on Saturday, where Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors from 20 States and 6 Union Territories gathered.
A big highlight of the meeting was the PM’s proposal for an 'Investment-friendly Charter’ aimed at attracting investments across the states. This charter is to be prepared by Niti Aayog and will include policies, programmes and processes to promote investment, with states being monitored on their achievements.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister alluded to India’s impressive economic progress over the past decade, noting the country’s ascent from the 10th largest economy in 2014 to the 5th largest in 2024. He set a goal for India to become the third-largest economy globally, driven by the collective efforts of the government and its citizens.
Modi praised India’s transition from an import-dependent nation to a significant exporter and highlighted achievements in sectors like defense, space, startups and sports, attributing this success to the confidence and enthusiasm of India’s 140 crore citizens.
Onus On States
The PM called on states to seize emerging opportunities in various sectors through innovative policy-making and governance programs. He said that the vision of “Viksit Bharat @2047” requires contributions from every district, block, and village, advocating for the vision to reach the grassroots level. The success of the Aspirational Districts Programme, facilitated by continuous and online monitoring that encouraged healthy competition among districts, was also highlighted.
Stressing the importance of skilling and training youth, Modi stressed India’s favourable position as a global source of skilled human resources. He urged states to create an environment conducive to investment, with a focus on law and order, good governance and infrastructure rather than just incentives.
The Prime Minister suggested the creation of River Grids at the state level for efficient water resource management and underscored the goal of zero poverty by addressing it at the individual level. He asserted that tackling poverty at its roots would have a transformative impact on the nation.
In the realm of agriculture, Modi encouraged states to increase productivity, diversify crops, and establish market linkages for farmers. He promoted the adoption of natural farming practices to enhance soil fertility, reduce costs, and provide better returns for farmers.
Additionally, Modi advised states to initiate demographic management plans to address future challenges of an ageing population and called for the capacity building of government officials at all levels, encouraging collaboration with the Capacity Building Commission.
Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors shared their suggestions and best practices in areas such as agriculture, education, skill development, entrepreneurship, governance, digitalisation and women empowerment.
