Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to engage in a three-day conference with chief secretaries in New Delhi, commencing Friday, focusing on streamlining regulations and reducing compliance burdens to foster a more business-friendly environment. This summit marks the fifth national-level gathering of its kind, uniting top officials from both the central government and state administrations for a series of intensive sessions.
The agenda encompasses a wide array of crucial topics, with a significant emphasis on ease of doing business and measures to develop human capital to align with India's aspirations of becoming a developed nation. The discussions will also revolve around themes related to women and child welfare, school education, higher education, sports, and skill development.
A key highlight of the conference will be a presentation by Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan, who is spearheading the government's deregulation efforts aimed at boosting economic activities. States will also contribute by presenting their perspectives and initiatives on the aforementioned themes. For instance, Kerala is expected to showcase its advancements in higher education, while Tamil Nadu will provide insights into its skill development programs and strategies for creating a future-ready workforce. Rajasthan will present on the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme, school education, and iStart, its initiative to promote innovation and investment. Telangana will present on a post-left wing extremism future.
The education ministry is slated to deliver a comprehensive presentation on teacher recruitment and enhancing the quality of teachers and PhD programs. The sports ministry will outline its mission-mode approach to sports development, spanning from school to university levels. Niti Aayog will share insights on technology in governance, and the tourism ministry will present plans for developing world-class tourism destinations.
In a similar conference held last year, PM Modi urged states to identify suitable locations for entrepreneurs in smaller cities and simplify compliances to encourage citizen participation. He emphasized the importance of "reform, perform, and transform," along with informing the public about government initiatives.
Past conferences have also addressed key issues such as land, electricity, drinking water, health, and schooling, with a focus on improving the ease of living for citizens. Special sessions have been dedicated to cyber security, aspirational block and district programs, and the integration of new-age technologies. Deliberations have also covered drug de-addiction and rehabilitation, tourism promotion, and various government schemes like PM Vishwakarma Yojana and PM SVANidhi.
The Prime Minister has also been actively involved in other initiatives aimed at boosting India's economy and infrastructure. Recently, he laid the foundation stone for a new urea production facility in Assam, a project expected to significantly enhance the region's industrial ecosystem and reduce dependence on fertilizer imports. He also inaugurated the New Terminal Building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, aimed at improving connectivity and passenger capacity in the region.
PM Modi's administration has also focused on improving India's ranking in ease of doing business, which rose from 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2019. The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 was a landmark reform aimed at creating "One Nation, One Tax".
