'Like Team India': PM Modi bats for Centre-state cooperation - key takeaways from Niti Aayog meeting

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday batted for cooperation between the Centre and states to achieve the national goals, as he chaired a meeting of Niti Aayog .

"If Centre and states work together like Team India, no goal is impossible," Prime Minister Modi said at Niti Aayog governing council meeting.

We have to increase the speed of development. If the Centre and all the States come together and work together like Team India, no goal is impossible: PM @narendramodi #PMOIndia #NITIAayog #10thGCM #10thGoverningCouncil@PMOIndia | @Rao_InderjitS | @MIB_India | @PIB_India |…

— NITI Aayog (@NITIAayog) May 24, 2025

He also said, " Viksit Bharat is the goal of every Indian. When every state is Viksit, then Bharat will be Viksit. This is the aspiration of its 140 crore citizens."

The theme of this year’s meeting was ‘Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047’, with a focus on the role of states in helping India become a developed country by 2047, according to a press release from NITI Aayog.

The Prime Minister also urged states to focus on tourism development. "States should develop at least one tourist destination per State at par with global standards and by providing all facilities and infrastructure. One State: One Global Destination. It would also lead to development of the neighbouring cities as tourist places," PM Modi said while chairing the 10th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog on Saturday at Bharat Mandapam , New Delhi.

We should work in a manner so that policies implemented bring change in the lives of common citizens. Only when people feel the change, it strengthens the change and transforms the change into a movement. We have a great opportunity as a team to fulfil the aspirations of 140…

— NITI Aayog (@NITIAayog) May 24, 2025

Hailing India's rapid urbanization, PM said, "India is getting rapidly urbanized. We should work towards future ready cities. Growth, innovation and sustainability should be the engine for the development of our cities."


Andhra CM proposes three sub-groups for Viksit Bharat mission


At the Governing Council Meeting, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu suggested creating three dedicated sub-groups of states, in partnership with the Union Government and NITI Aayog, to accelerate efforts toward achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047.

• As per a statement issued by the State government, the first sub-group would focus on driving GDP growth by encouraging investments, enhancing manufacturing and exports, and generating employment. This would be supported through central Viability Gap Funding for public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
• The second sub-group would address population management, aiming to help India make the most of its demographic strengths while also preparing for future issues such as population ageing and declining fertility rates.
• The third sub-group would work on promoting technology-based governance by leveraging tools like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, drones, and digital platforms to ensure efficient, real-time, citizen-focused administration.

Mamata, Vijayan among CMs to skip meeting


Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and three chief ministers from Southern states, including from NDA ruled Puducherry, skipped the Niti Ayog's Governing Council meeting, news agency PTI reported.

While the CM of Congress-ruled Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, was busy with "prior engagement" in the state and sent his speech to be read out in the council, Marxist veteran and Kerala CM, Pinarayi Vijayan deputed his cabinet colleague K N Balagopal on his behalf.

Similarly, Puducherry chief minister N Rangasamy, who heads the AINRC-led NDA coalition in the union territory, also skipped the event, an official source was quoted as saying by the PTI.