The North News
New Delhi, December 26
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries in New Delhi from 26 to 28 December, as the Centre and states step up coordination on India’s long-term development priorities. The annual conference is aimed at strengthening Centre–State cooperation through sustained dialogue, with a focus this year on building human capital as a driver of inclusive and future-ready growth.
Officials said the three-day meeting would work towards a shared development agenda, moving beyond the idea of India’s population as merely a demographic dividend and instead positioning citizens as productive human capital.
Discussions will centre on improving education systems, expanding skilling initiatives and creating employment opportunities aligned with future economic needs. The conference theme, Human Capital for Viksit Bharat, draws on consultations between central ministries, states and union territories, NITI Aayog, and subject experts. Five core areas have been identified for detailed deliberations: early childhood education, schooling, skilling, higher education, and sports and extracurricular activities.
In addition, six special sessions will examine deregulation at the state level, the use of technology in governance, smart agricultural supply chains through AgriStack, the “One State, One World-Class Tourist Destination” initiative, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Swadeshi, and plans for a post–Left Wing Extremism future.
Informal working discussions over meals will also address heritage and manuscript preservation through digitisation, and the integration of AYUSH systems into primary healthcare.
The National Conference of Chief Secretaries has been held annually since 2022, with previous editions organised in Dharamshala and New Delhi. Chief secretaries, senior officials from all states and union territories, and domain experts are expected to attend this year’s meeting.
