'PM Modi Asked States To Follow Good Governance Practices': NITI Aayog's CEO On 8th Governing Council Meeting

We are not only the largest country by population but also the 5th largest economy. The fifth is going to become the third in a couple of years," CEO of NITI Aayog BVR Subrahmanyam said.

After the Governing Council meeting, CEO of NITI Aayog BVR Subrahmanyam on Saturday stated that Prime Minister Modi asked states to follow "fiscal prudence and good governance practices."

"Why is Viksit Bharat so important at this point? It is important because India is at a takeoff moment. We are not only the largest country by population but also the 5th largest economy. The fifth is going to become the third in a couple of years," he stated, news agency ANI reported. 

Speaking about the role of demography, Subrahmanyam said: "Demography is in our favour not just in terms of the total number of people but also in terms of the number of youthful people. India will have about 20% of the world's working-age population in a couple of years and it is going to be the largest provider of working-age people for the next 20 years or so."

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the eighth Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog. In the meeting, discussions were held on several issues including, health, skill development, women empowerment and infrastructure development, with an aim to make India a developed nation by 2047. 

In the meeting, PM Modi noted that NITI Aayog has the potential to significantly aid states in developing their long-term strategies for the next 25 years, while also aligning them with the broader objectives of the National Development Agenda. He advised the States and Union Territories to collaborate with NITI Aayog in order to make significant progress towards achieving their goals for the Amrit Kaal.

Today's meeting was attended by only a few of the chief ministers, primarily those whose states are governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its associates, with at least 11 absentees hailing from states not under the BJP's or its allies' governance.

The supreme authority of NITI Aayog, known as the Governing Council, comprises of the chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and numerous Union ministers. NITI Aayog is headed by the Prime Minister who serves as its Chairperson.