PM Modi Urges States to Chart Course for 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047' at NITI Aayog Meet, Emphasizes Team India Approach

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, a crucial gathering aimed at galvanizing states to align their development trajectories with the ambitious vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) by 2047. The meeting, held in New Delhi, saw the participation of Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors from 24 states and 7 Union Territories, alongside Union Ministers, underscoring the government's commitment to cooperative federalism.

The theme of the meeting, "Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @ 2047," served as a powerful call for each state to craft bold, inclusive, and locally grounded vision documents that contribute to the larger national goal. Prime Minister Modi stressed that achieving a developed India by the centenary of its independence is not merely a central government agenda, but a collective aspiration of 140 crore citizens, emphasizing that "when every state is Viksit, then Bharat will be Viksit."

Addressing the council, the Prime Minister highlighted the imperative to accelerate the pace of development and asserted that "if the Centre and all the States come together and work together like Team India, no goal is impossible." He urged states to focus on making each state, city, municipality, and village "Viksit" as a direct path to realizing the national vision well before 2047.

Key discussions revolved around various pillars of development, including promoting entrepreneurship, employment, and skilling, leveraging the demographic dividend, enhancing manufacturing and services, supporting MSMEs, and exploring opportunities in the green economy. Prime Minister Modi also encouraged states to develop at least one tourist destination to global standards, fostering economic growth and attracting international visitors.

The Prime Minister also touched upon the rapid urbanization in India, urging states to make cities engines of sustainability and growth, with a particular focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. He emphasized the crucial role of 'Nari Shakti' (women power) in India's growth trajectory and called for policy and legal reforms to ensure their respectful integration into the workforce. The importance of interlinking rivers within states to address water scarcity and floods was also highlighted, with Bihar's Kosi-Mochi connection grid cited as a commendable example.

While the meeting garnered significant participation, Chief Ministers from several opposition-ruled states, including West Bengal, Kerala, and Karnataka, were notably absent. Despite this, NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam noted the highest-ever participation in a Governing Council meeting, indicating a largely positive inclination from states.

Several Chief Ministers presented their state-specific vision documents and raised concerns. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu proposed three national sub-groups to boost GDP, manage population growth, and leverage Artificial Intelligence. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, while detailing his state's progress, stressed the need for upholding cooperative federalism and demanded a higher share of central taxes for states. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also raised concerns regarding water disputes and seeking a special industrial package for border districts

The meeting concluded with a reinforced commitment to collaborative efforts between the Centre and states, aiming to transform India into a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready nation by 2047. NITI Aayog is set to study the concerns and best practices shared by the states to chart the way forward.