Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries in New Delhi on December 27–28, 2025, bringing together senior officials from the Centre and states to deliberate on national development priorities. The three-day conference, which began on December 26, was anchored in the Prime Minister’s vision of cooperative federalism and aimed at strengthening Centre–state partnerships through structured dialogue.
The overarching theme of this year’s conference was “Human Capital for Viksit Bharat”, reflecting a strategic shift from merely leveraging India’s demographic dividend to systematically developing citizens as high-value human capital. Discussions covered a wide range of areas including early childhood education, schooling, skilling, higher education, sports, and extracurricular activities. Special sessions also focused on state-level deregulation, technology in governance, AgriStack, tourism development under ‘One State, One World Class Tourist Destination,’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
In his address, Prime Minister Modi reiterated the government’s commitment to citizen-centric governance and emphasized reforms aimed at improving the ease of living. He highlighted how coordinated efforts between the Centre and states are essential for accelerating inclusive and future-ready growth. The conference also served as a preparatory forum for issues to be taken up at the upcoming NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting.
Chief Secretaries from across the country engaged in detailed deliberations on policy implementation, grassroots challenges, and innovative solutions to maximize India’s human capital potential. The event reinforced the Centre’s push for cooperative federalism, ensuring that national development strategies are aligned with state-level priorities.
The 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries thus marked a significant step in shaping India’s roadmap toward Viksit Bharat (Developed India), with a strong emphasis on human capital development, technology-driven governance, and inclusive growth.
