Opposition Boycotts NITI Aayog's 9th Governing Council Meeting Amidst Growing Divide

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the 9th NITI Aayog's Governing Council meeting, focusing on making India a developed nation by 2047. Opposition-ruled states have announced boycotts over alleged bias, while discussions will center on the Vision Document for Viksit Bharat @2047 and other key governance issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the 9th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog on Saturday, with a keen focus on the ambitious goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. The event is scheduled to take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, according to an official release from the government think tank.

Several opposition-ruled states, including Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana, have announced boycotts of the meeting, citing alleged bias against their states in the recent Union Budget. Chief Ministers Siddaramaiah, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and Revanth Reddy have all stated they will not attend.

Similarly, Chief Ministers MK Stalin of Tamil Nadu, Pinarayi Vijayan of Kerala, and leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab and Delhi have also chosen to abstain from the meeting. However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be present, voicing the need for a unified platform to express concerns.

This year's theme, 'Viksit Bharat@2047', aims to create a roadmap for making India a developed nation. The meeting is set to deliberate on the Approach Paper for the Vision Document on Viksit Bharat @2047. Additionally, it seeks to enhance the quality of life in both rural and urban areas by improving government delivery mechanisms through participatory governance.

Discussions will focus on the states' roles in achieving the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision. With India's GDP surpassing USD 5 trillion and aspirations to reach USD 30 trillion by 2047, a collaborative approach between the Centre and State governments is deemed crucial for success. The recommendations from the 3rd National Conference of Chief Secretaries, which took place in December 2023, will also be reviewed. Topics like cybersecurity, the aspirational districts and blocks programme, and the role of AI in governance will be on the agenda.

The Prime Minister, as the Chairperson of NITI Aayog, will be joined by Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, Union Ministers as Ex-officio Members, Special Invitees, and the Vice Chairman and members of NITI Aayog.