Replicate PRAGATI in states, set up data strategy units: PM Modi

The Prime Minister said India had boarded the “reform express”, primarily driven by the strength of the youth, and the government was focused on empowering the key demographic, it said. He said the “Made in India” label should become a symbol of excellence and global competitiveness. He said the Union and State governments should together identify 100 products for domestic manufacturing in order to reduce imports. He asked states to prioritise the soon-to-be-launched National Manufacturing Mission.

On Saturday, he said in a post on X that he had “insightful discussions on various issues relating to governance and reforms during the National Conference of Chief Secretaries being held in Delhi”.

In his address to the Chief Secretaries on Sunday evening, it is learnt that he asked them to establish a PRAGATI-like system, referring to the platform that was launched in 2015 by the Union government, for the state governments. The portal, which stands for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, brings together data management, geo-spatial mapping and video-conferencing for the Prime Minister’s Office, Union Ministries and State governments to monitor implementation of critical infrastructure projects.

The PM is also learnt to have asked the Chief Secretaries to set up data strategy units in their offices in order to better utilise data for governance. He also asked them to set up deregulation cells in their offices to monitor the progress of deregulation efforts in states.

The PM noted that he has observed District Collectors spend a lot of time in work-related video-conferences and suggested that Chief Secretaries should streamline the process, restricting the time for “VCs” to two hours a week so that the collectors can spend more time in the field, a source said.

Ahead of the conference, the PMO had said in a statement last week that the agenda would include “intensive deliberations aimed at finalising a common development agenda”.

“It will lay the ground for collaborative action to move beyond viewing India’s population merely as a demographic dividend and instead position citizens as human capital by developing concrete strategies to strengthen education systems, advance skilling initiatives and generate future-ready employment opportunities across the country,” it had said.

The conference included sessions on deregulation in states, technology in governance and Atmanirbhar Bharat or a self-reliant India. Senior officials from the PMO, Union government and NITI Aayog also attended the conference.