New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog on June 11, bringing together chief ministers and lieutenant governors from across the country for a key discussion on issues concerning states and the Centre.
The meeting assumes significance as it comes just weeks after the Centre undertook a restructuring of NITI Aayog, the government’s premier public policy think tank. Officials said preparations for the meeting are underway, with invitations being sent to states and Union Territories.
The Governing Council is NITI Aayog’s highest decision-making body and is chaired by the Prime Minister. Its members include chief ministers of all states, lieutenant governors of Union Territories and senior representatives of the Union government. The forum serves as a platform for the Centre and states to discuss policy priorities and strengthen cooperative federalism.
Sources indicated that the meeting is expected to focus on issues related to human resource development, with particular emphasis on education, vocational training and employment opportunities. Discussions may also cover ways to bridge the gap between education and industry requirements as India seeks to enhance workforce skills and boost economic growth.
The June 11 gathering will be the first Governing Council meeting following recent changes in NITI Aayog’s structure. The outcome of the deliberations is expected to shape policy coordination between the Centre and states in the coming months.
NITI Aayog, established in 2015 in place of the Planning Commission, functions as the government’s apex policy institution. Over the years, its Governing Council meetings have served as an important forum for consensus-building on national development priorities and governance reforms.
The meeting is expected to witness participation from chief ministers across party lines, making it one of the most significant Centre-state consultations of the year.
