Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the 8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, which took place at the New Convention Centre, Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers/Lt. Governors representing 19 states and 6 Union Territories.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the Center, states, and Union Territories working together as “Team India” to fulfill the aspirations of the people and achieve the vision of a developed India by 2047. He highlighted the role of NITI Aayog in assisting states in formulating their strategies for the next 25 years and aligning them with the national development agenda. The Prime Minister urged the states and Union Territories to collaborate with NITI Aayog to accelerate progress towards the country’s goals.
The Prime Minister commended the initiatives taken by NITI Aayog to promote cooperative and competitive federalism, such as the Aspirational Districts Programme and Aspirational Blocks Programme. He emphasized the positive impact of these programs in promoting data-driven governance and improving the lives of citizens at the grassroots level.
Addressing specific issues, the Prime Minister called for the promotion of millets under the International Year of Millets and highlighted the importance of water conservation through the Amrit Sarovar program. He emphasized the significance of maintaining fiscal discipline at the state level and encouraged states to utilize the Gati Shakti Portal for infrastructure development and local area and social infrastructure.
The Prime Minister also discussed the opportunities provided by India hosting the G20 meetings, which not only brought global recognition but also provided states with a platform for international exposure. He emphasized the importance of skill development to meet global requirements, support for MSMEs, harnessing the tourism potential of the country, simplifying compliances at the state level, promoting women-led development, and working towards eliminating tuberculosis by 2025.
During the meeting, Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors shared their policy-level suggestions and highlighted specific issues requiring cooperation between the Center and states. The suggestions and best practices covered areas such as green strategies, zone-wise planning, tourism, urban planning, agriculture, workmanship quality, and logistics.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors for their participation in the meeting and appreciated their valuable insights. He assured them that NITI Aayog would study their concerns, challenges, and best practices and formulate a plan for the way forward based on the inputs received.