NEW DELHI, Jun 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged states to harness the potential of artificial intelligence while putting in place safeguards against emerging social challenges, including cyber fraud and drug abuse. He also called for stronger water conservation efforts amid concerns over the possible impact of El Niño conditions.
Addressing the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, the Prime Minister said India continues to remain a bright spot in the global economy despite uncertainty and economic pressures affecting several major nations. He stressed the need to strengthen the country’s journey towards self-reliance and encouraged states to adopt global best practices, particularly in renewable energy.
Referring to India’s recent trade agreements with multiple countries, Modi asked states to create greater opportunities for youth and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He emphasised the importance of preparing businesses and entrepreneurs to benefit from expanding international market access while also attracting investments from partner nations.
Highlighting the importance of cooperative federalism, the Prime Minister said the goal of a developed India can only be achieved through close collaboration between the Centre and states. He urged every state, district, block and village to make the vision of Viksit Bharat a shared commitment.
Modi also called for collective efforts to tackle social challenges through awareness campaigns, preventive interventions and effective governance mechanisms. He underscored the role of transparency, efficient administration and robust infrastructure in attracting investments and improving economic competitiveness.
The Prime Minister encouraged states to focus on emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, data centres and advanced manufacturing. Describing AI as a significant opportunity, he stressed the need to equip citizens with future-ready skills and prepare the workforce for evolving economic demands.
Noting that India’s youth population is a major strength, Modi urged states to convert the country’s demographic advantage into a development advantage through targeted investments in education, skilling and employment generation.
The meeting witnessed participation from all 28 states and five Union Territories, marking the first time every state’s chief minister attended the annual Governing Council session.
According to NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri, the Prime Minister emphasised that national development depends on the progress of every state. He also encouraged states to assess economic performance at the district level to better track local development outcomes.
Modi further asked states to strengthen the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative and build export-oriented growth strategies around locally produced goods. He identified defence manufacturing as a sector with significant growth potential and encouraged states to formulate policies that can benefit from its expansion.
The meeting also focused on employment generation, skilling, energy security and planned urbanisation. Several chief ministers highlighted the need for reliable and competitive energy pricing, while discussions also touched upon the growing role of clean and advanced energy technologies.
The theme of the meeting was “Inclusive Human Development Framework”, centred on human capital development, employment and entrepreneurship, health and nutrition, and ensuring equity and dignity for all sections of society.