New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday underscored the crucial role of states in driving India’s development agenda as he chaired the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi.
Held under the theme “Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat@2047,” the meeting brought together Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators from 28 states and five Union Territories. It marked the first time that Chief Ministers from all 28 states participated in a NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting.
In a post on X after the meeting, Modi said discussions focused on self-reliance, adopting global best practices and accelerating reforms. Reaffirming the government’s commitment to cooperative federalism, he said states remain central to India’s growth and development journey.
The Prime Minister highlighted India’s strong economic performance amid global uncertainty and called for greater efforts to strengthen self-reliance. He urged states to embrace successful international practices, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy, while tailoring them to local needs.
Emphasising the importance of demographic advantage, Modi noted that nearly 70 crore Indians are below the age of 25 and described the country’s youth population as its greatest asset. He urged states to invest in education, skilling and capacity-building initiatives to convert this demographic dividend into a development dividend.
The Prime Minister also encouraged states to leverage India’s recent trade agreements by creating opportunities for youth and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), while actively attracting investments from partner countries.
On women-led development, Modi called for increasing the number of “Lakhpati Didis” from three crore to six crore and stressed the need to ensure safety and empowerment for women. He also urged states to promote the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative and develop export-oriented strategies around local products.
Highlighting emerging sectors, Modi encouraged states to focus on defence manufacturing, data centres and artificial intelligence, describing AI as a major opportunity for future growth. He also called for coordinated action against challenges such as drug abuse, cyber fraud and water scarcity.
Concluding the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that cooperation between the Centre and states would accelerate India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.
