New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called upon states to put human capital at the heart of governance and economic reforms, asserting that India’s march towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 will be driven by the quality of its people, institutions and implementation. Addressing the concluding session of the fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries, Modi said the country’s demographic strength must now be converted into productive, future-ready capacity.

Stressing that India’s youth power is its biggest asset, the Prime Minister said sustained investments in education, skilling, health and sports were essential to unlock this potential. He urged states and the Centre to work in tandem to align policies with emerging economic needs, observing that the pace of reforms would accelerate only when cooperative federalism translated into outcomes on the ground.

Modi underlined the need to strengthen manufacturing and expand high-value services, calling on states to improve ease of doing business and promote innovation. He said “Made in India” must come to signify global quality and competitiveness, with Indian products and services matching the best in the world.

Highlighting agriculture and allied sectors as key growth drivers, the Prime Minister pitched for value addition in horticulture, dairy and fisheries, alongside greater use of digital tools to enhance farm incomes. Tourism, he said, could become a major employment generator, urging each state to develop at least one world-class tourist destination.

The three-day conference brought together chief secretaries of all states, senior central officials and policy experts to deliberate on human capital, deregulation, technology adoption, manufacturing and services. Officials said the discussions reflected a shared resolve between the Centre and states to move from policy formulation to effective delivery as India charts its path to Viksit Bharat.

BI Bureau