The 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Narendra Modi, witnessed an unprecedented level of participation this year, with chief ministers from all 28 Indian states attending the gathering. The full attendance marked a significant shift from previous years, when the annual meeting was frequently overshadowed by boycotts, political disagreements, and the absence of several chief ministers, particularly from opposition-ruled states.
Held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, the meeting brought together leaders from across the political spectrum, reflecting a rare moment of collective engagement in one of India’s most important forums for Centre-state cooperation. The Governing Council serves as the apex body of NITI Aayog and plays a crucial role in shaping national development priorities, policy frameworks, and strategies through consultation and collaboration between the Union government and state governments.
A notable feature of this year's meeting was the participation of all seven opposition-ruled states. Those in attendance included Joseph Vijay from Tamil Nadu, DK Shivakumar from Karnataka, VD Satheesan from Kerala, Revanth Reddy from Telangana, Hemant Soren from Jharkhand, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu from Himachal Pradesh, and Omar Abdullah. Their presence alongside BJP chief ministers such as Devendra Fadnavis, Yogi Adityanath and Suvendu Adhikari underscored the broad participation achieved this year.
Apart from the chief ministers, the meeting was attended by Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories and several Union ministers. The gathering was designed to facilitate discussions on economic growth, infrastructure development, governance reforms, social welfare initiatives, employment generation, and other issues central to India’s long-term development goals. The level of participation recorded this year was among the highest seen in recent editions of the council.
Following the conclusion of the NITI Aayog meeting, several chief ministers held separate meetings with Prime Minister Modi. Leaders from Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Jammu and Kashmir met the Prime Minister individually to discuss state-specific issues and development priorities. Significantly, four of these states are governed by opposition parties, highlighting an atmosphere of engagement beyond political divisions.
The contrast with previous years was particularly striking. During the 10th Governing Council meeting last year, several prominent opposition leaders chose not to participate. Among those absent were Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan, Siddaramaiah, and Nitish Kumar. In 2024, as many as ten chief ministers did not attend the meeting, with some openly boycotting the event and others citing scheduling conflicts or sending representatives in their place. Similar attendance patterns were observed in 2023, when nine chief ministers stayed away, and comparable trends had emerged in earlier years as well.
Against that backdrop, the complete attendance achieved this year stood out as a significant development and was widely viewed as a demonstration of renewed engagement between the Centre and the states. The meeting reflected a stronger commitment to dialogue and cooperation, regardless of political affiliations.
Sharing photographs from the event on social media, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the importance of cooperative federalism and stressed the need for the Centre and states to work together in advancing India's development agenda. He stated that collaborative efforts between different levels of government would be instrumental in achieving the national vision of a developed India, often referred to as “Viksit Bharat.”
During his address to the Governing Council, Modi noted that India continues to maintain its growth momentum despite a challenging global environment marked by economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and instability in several regions of the world. He expressed confidence in the country's ability to continue progressing on its developmental path through coordinated efforts and sound policymaking.
The Prime Minister also referred to India's recent free trade agreements with multiple countries, describing them as major opportunities for the country's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He said these agreements could help Indian businesses expand into international markets, improve product quality, adopt global standards, and enhance their competitiveness on the world stage.
A substantial portion of the discussion focused on India's youth population. Modi emphasised that creating a supportive ecosystem for young people remains critical to the country's future. He stressed the importance of quality education, industry-oriented skill development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment generation. According to him, preparing young Indians for emerging opportunities in both domestic and international markets should remain a top priority for policymakers.
The Prime Minister also reiterated the importance of women-led development in achieving the broader goals of Viksit Bharat. He observed that women are increasingly contributing across multiple sectors, including agriculture, entrepreneurship, science, technology, research, and innovation. He urged state governments to focus on improving educational opportunities, enhancing skill development programmes, ensuring safety, and promoting the economic empowerment of women so that their full potential can contribute to national progress.
Throughout the meeting, chief ministers from various states presented their development agendas, outlined key priorities for their respective governments, and raised state-specific concerns and demands before the Centre. Discussions covered a range of issues, including infrastructure expansion, investment promotion, employment creation, welfare programmes, urban development, rural growth, and strategies for accelerating economic progress.
The full participation witnessed at this year's NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting was widely seen as a positive sign for cooperative federalism in India. By bringing together leaders from every state, irrespective of political affiliation, the meeting provided a platform for dialogue, consensus-building, and coordinated policymaking aimed at addressing both regional and national development challenges.
