Key Highlights
- All 28 State chief ministers convened for the first time at a NITI Aayog governing council.
- Modi underscored cooperative federalism as the engine driving India’s demographic and economic surge.
- Emphasis placed on AI, defence manufacturing, and the One‑District‑One‑Product (ODOP) model as growth pillars.
- Calls for youth‑centric skill programmes, trade‑boosting policies, and heightened women’s economic participation.
- Urgent action demanded on drug abuse, cyber‑crime and digital fraud.
Detailed Insights
The eleventh session of the NITI Aayog Governing Council unfolded on 11 June 2026 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, gathering chief ministers, lieutenant governors and administrators from every Indian state and five union territories. Prime Minister Narendra Modi framed the dialogue around “Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @ 2047,” insisting that the nation’s development agenda must permeate every district, block and village.
Modi highlighted India’s resilient macro‑economic trajectory, noting that while many major economies wrestle with slowdown, India continues to rank among the world’s fastest‑growing nations. To preserve this momentum, he urged a deepening of Centre‑State collaboration, branding cooperative federalism as the cornerstone of the country’s progress.
The premier called for the swift adoption of global best practices, especially in renewable energy deployment and governance reforms. He spotlighted the country’s demographic dividend – roughly 70 crore citizens under 25 – as a strategic asset, provided that systematic investments are made in quality education, skill development, capacity building and future‑ready employment avenues.
Trade and investment formed another focal point. Referencing recent free‑trade agreements, Modi encouraged states to attract foreign capital, nurture export‑oriented industries, cultivate business‑friendly ecosystems and leverage international partnerships to accelerate manufacturing and job creation.
On the technology front, the prime minister portrayed artificial intelligence not as a threat but as a catalyst, urging states to embed AI‑related competencies and digital literacy across curricula. He also identified data centres, defence manufacturing and advanced technology sectors as priority domains, advocating for policy frameworks that invite investment and generate skilled employment.
The One‑District‑One‑Product (ODOP) scheme received renewed emphasis, with Modi urging states to build export strategies around locally distinctive products. Parallelly, women’s economic empowerment was reinforced, with a target to double the count of “Lakhpati Didis” from 3 crore to 6 crore while ensuring safety and security.
Finally, the council addressed emerging social risks—drug abuse, cyber fraud and digital crimes—calling for preventive outreach, heightened public awareness and robust governance mechanisms.