PM Modi to Lead Fifth Chief Secretaries’ Conference with Focus on Human Capital for Viksit Bharat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries in New Delhi on December 27 and 28, 2025, reinforcing the Centre’s push for cooperative federalism and coordinated national development.

The three-day conference, beginning December 26, will bring together senior officials from the Centre and States to align governance priorities, according to an official release issued on Friday.

Advertisement

This year’s conference marks a strategic shift in approach—from merely leveraging India’s demographic dividend to systematically developing citizens as high-value human capital. The central theme, “Human Capital for Viksit Bharat,” has been shaped through extensive consultations among NITI Aayog, Union ministries, and state governments, with an emphasis on translating growth into measurable improvements in individual capability and well-being.

Discussions under the core theme will focus on five key pillars: early childhood education to strengthen learning foundations; schooling and higher education reforms to modernise the academic ecosystem; skilling initiatives aligned with global industry needs; sports and extracurricular activities to promote holistic development; and targeted interventions to support overall human potential.

Beyond the main agenda, the conference will feature six special sessions addressing emerging governance and economic challenges. These include the role of technology in governance and risk management, implementation of AgriStack for smarter agricultural supply chains, state-level deregulation to boost ease of doing business, tourism development under the “One State, One World-Class Tourist Destination” initiative, and discussions on national security, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and planning for a post–Left Wing Extremism future.

Even informal sessions have been structured with policy intent, with focused discussions during mealtimes on heritage and manuscript digitisation and the integration of Ayush into primary healthcare.

Since its launch in Dharamshala in June 2022, the National Conference of Chief Secretaries has become a key fixture in India’s administrative calendar, meeting annually to strengthen the “Team India” approach to governance. By convening Chief Secretaries, senior Union officials, and domain experts, the Prime Minister aims to bridge the gap between policy formulation and on-ground delivery, ensuring that the vision of a developed, inclusive, and future-ready India is effectively implemented.