Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said empowering India’s youth remains a national priority, describing them as the driving force behind the country’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Chairing the Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi, the Prime Minister stressed the need to create a supportive ecosystem through quality education, demand-driven skilling and employment opportunities.
“India’s demographic dividend is a historic opportunity that we cannot afford to lose. Creating the right ecosystem for our youth through quality education, demand-driven skilling and employment opportunities must remain a priority. Empowered youth will be the driving force behind our journey towards Viksit Bharat,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the role of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in expanding economic opportunities and boosting exports. He said the agreements offer significant opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to access global markets by improving competitiveness and meeting international standards.
Referring to the goal of achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047, PM Modi emphasised the importance of cooperation between the Centre and states.
“Guided by the spirit of cooperative federalism, we are working together to accelerate India’s development journey. The collective efforts of the Centre and States will play a pivotal role in realising our shared vision of Viksit Bharat,” he said.
According to an official statement, the theme of this year’s Governing Council meeting is “Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047”, focusing on the well-being and development of every citizen irrespective of age, region, gender or socio-economic background.
The meeting is deliberating on strategies to translate this vision into measurable outcomes for citizens across the country.
Chief Ministers of states, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, Union Ministers and senior government officials are participating in the meeting.
Discussions are centred on four key pillars of the Inclusive Human Development Framework — foundational human capital and future-ready skills; productive employment, entrepreneurship and decentralised growth; health, nutrition and wellbeing; and equity and dignity for all.
The meeting is also deliberating on measures to promote entrepreneurship, strengthen skilling initiatives and create sustainable employment opportunities across the country.
According to the statement, discussions are expected to focus on an implementation roadmap supported by governance reforms, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), partnerships, convergence and data-driven systems, with mechanisms for tracking short-, medium- and long-term outcomes.
-IANS
