Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Wednesday that the Pragati-led ecosystem for monitoring projects and flagship schemes has significantly accelerated initiatives worth more than Rs 85 lakh crore over the past ten years. He made this statement while chairing the 50th Pragati meeting online with secretaries and chief secretaries of states and union territories.
A Decade of Transformative Governance
Describing the 50th meeting as a major milestone, Prime Minister Modi stated it symbolizes the profound transformation in India's governance culture witnessed in the last decade. He articulated a clear vision for the next phase, centered on the mantra of "reform, perform, and transform." According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Modi elaborated that reform should focus on simplifying processes and moving towards solutions, while performance must ensure delivery. The ultimate goal of transformation, he said, is to create a tangible impact on citizens' lives.
The Prime Minister emphasized that reforms should translate into simplified procedures and systems that enhance both 'ease of living' and 'ease of doing business.' He stressed that the true measure of transformation lies in what citizens experience—timely services, faster grievance resolution, and an overall improvement in their quality of life. "When decisions are timely, coordination is effective and accountability is fixed, the speed of government functioning naturally increases and its impact becomes visible directly in citizens' lives," the PMO statement quoted him as saying.
Review of Projects and PM SHRI Scheme
During the landmark meeting, PM Modi reviewed five major infrastructure projects spanning the road, railways, power, water resources, and coal sectors. The cumulative cost of these projects exceeds Rs 40,000 crore.
A significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the PM SHRI school scheme. The Prime Minister directed that the scheme should evolve into a national benchmark for holistic and future-ready education. He urged a shift in focus from mere infrastructure development to outcome-oriented implementation. Modi instructed all chief secretaries to monitor the scheme closely and ensure that PM SHRI schools set a high standard for other state government schools to follow. He also suggested that senior officers conduct field visits to personally evaluate the performance of these schools.
The Genesis and Evolution of Pragati
Recalling the origins of the Pragati platform, Prime Minister Modi shared his experience as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He had launched the Swagat platform (State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology) to address public grievances with discipline, transparency, and time-bound action.
Building on that successful model at the state level, after assuming office at the Centre, he expanded its core principles nationally through the Pragati initiative. This integrated platform brings together large infrastructure projects, major government programmes, and public grievance redressal under one umbrella for systematic review, resolution, and follow-up, thereby strengthening outcome-driven governance across the country.
