Cabinet Secretary Applauds Rajasthan's Innovative Raj-UNNATI Project Monitoring Initiative
In a significant development for governance in Rajasthan, Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan has officially praised the state government's newly launched Raj-UNNATI initiative. This innovative project-monitoring system is directly inspired by the central government's highly successful PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) platform, which utilizes information and communication technology to enhance administrative efficiency.
Direct Commendation from the Cabinet Secretary
In a formal letter addressed to Rajasthan Chief Secretary V Srinivas, Somanathan expressed his satisfaction, stating, "I am happy to note that Rajasthan has launched Raj Unnati on the PRAGATI Model." This endorsement from the highest bureaucratic office in the country underscores the initiative's alignment with national best practices in governance.
Replicating a National Best Practice
Chief Secretary V Srinivas, in an exclusive conversation with The Indian Express, elaborated on the origins of Raj-UNNATI. "Raj-UNNATI is designed on the lines of PRAGATI," he confirmed. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted states to replicate the best practice in a PRAGATI meeting on December 31, 2025. Rajasthan is the first state to adopt it as Raj-UNNATI." This makes Rajasthan a pioneering state in implementing this model of proactive governance at the state level.
Objectives and Operational Framework
The primary objective of Raj-UNNATI is to systematically resolve issues plaguing important projects, government schemes, and public grievances that have been stalled due to various administrative and logistical reasons. The initiative employs a robust framework:
- Projects and schemes from both the central and state governments are reviewed through structured videoconferencing sessions.
- The first official meeting was convened under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on January 17, 2026, where the progress of seven significant projects, collectively valued at approximately Rs 1,943 crore, was thoroughly assessed.
- Meetings are attended by a comprehensive panel of senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, relevant Secretaries, all Divisional Commissioners, and all District Collectors along with their concerned district-level teams.
Technological Backbone: The CMIS Portal
To ensure seamless execution and tracking, a dedicated technological module has been developed as part of the Chief Minister Information System (CMIS). All directives issued during the Raj-UNNATI meetings are promptly uploaded onto the CMIS portal. Furthermore, specific timelines for task completion are meticulously monitored through an integrated online tracker, which includes an effective escalation and communication matrix to ensure accountability and timely resolution.
The Proven PRAGATI Model
The Raj-UNNATI initiative draws its strength from the proven track record of the central PRAGATI system, which was conceptualized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after he assumed office in 2014. PRAGATI is a three-tier monitoring system involving officials from the Prime Minister's Office, central government secretaries, and the chief secretaries of various states.
The Prime Minister personally chairs monthly PRAGATI meetings, interacting directly with officials via videoconference. The results have been remarkably impactful. According to an official statement released by the Prime Minister's Office on December 31, 2025:
- Since its inception, 377 projects have been reviewed under the PRAGATI framework.
- Out of 3,162 identified issues across these projects, an impressive 2,958 issues (approximately 94%) have been successfully resolved.
- This high resolution rate has significantly curtailed project delays, minimized cost overruns, and reduced coordination failures.
- Over the past decade, the PRAGATI-led governance ecosystem has been instrumental in accelerating projects with a cumulative worth exceeding Rs 85 lakh crore.
By adopting and adapting this successful model, Rajasthan's Raj-UNNATI initiative aims to bring similar efficiency, transparency, and timely implementation to state-level governance, setting a benchmark for other states to follow.
