PM Modi Calls for Long-Term Governance Vision

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th Aug: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged senior bureaucrats to adopt a long-term approach to governance, strengthen inter-departmental coordination and harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data-driven policymaking while chairing the third high-level meeting with Secretaries to the Government of India at his official residence.

The meeting focused on the future action agenda of ministries dealing with infrastructure and connectivity, security and external affairs, and governance. Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of key ministries and departments, and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office attended the deliberations.

Addressing the officials, the Prime Minister said Secretaries should look beyond immediate administrative issues and statistics and think strategically about shaping India’s future. He stressed that governance must be guided by a long-term vision aligned with the country’s development goals.

Highlighting the challenge of departmental silos, Modi said these were not only organisational barriers but also reflected a mindset that hindered effective governance. He urged officials to work with a sense of ownership, belongingness and collective responsibility, adding that coordination across ministries should become an integral part of government functioning.

Referring to the government’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic and the West Asia crisis, the Prime Minister said seamless collaboration among departments had demonstrated the effectiveness of a whole-of-government approach and should serve as a model for future policymaking.

On technology, Modi called for wider adoption of Artificial Intelligence while emphasising that human intervention and judgement must remain central to decision-making. He encouraged ministries to explore innovative ways of combining AI capabilities with human expertise to improve governance and public service delivery.

The Prime Minister described data as a national asset and a strategic resource for the future. He noted that although the government invests significantly in collecting and managing data, its potential often remains underutilised because of fragmented systems and lack of interoperability. He called for standardised data practices and stronger integration across departments to maximise its value.

Modi also advocated greater engagement between government departments, universities and young people to bring fresh ideas and innovative perspectives into policymaking. He said stronger collaboration with academic institutions would help create more forward-looking and effective public policies.

Emphasising self-reliance in strategic sectors, the Prime Minister called for further strengthening India’s defence industry and making it globally competitive through innovation, research and skilled human resources. He also urged the development of specialised defence education programmes to support the sector’s future growth.

The Prime Minister underlined the importance of a comprehensive maritime strategy, asking ministries to assess whether the infrastructure status granted to the shipbuilding sector was delivering the intended outcomes. He reiterated the need to move from port development to port-led development and strengthen connectivity between manufacturing hubs and export-oriented industries.

Concluding the meeting, Modi stressed the need for innovative thinking, stronger teamwork and a whole-of-government approach to address complex national challenges. He also encouraged senior officers to foster greater informal interaction and mentorship with younger colleagues to build stronger institutional networks and improve administrative effectiveness.

The Secretaries shared their perspectives on sectoral priorities, implementation challenges and future policy directions during the meeting.