PM Modi to Chair Fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries with Focus on Human Capital for Viksit Bharat

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries in the national capital over the weekend, on December 27 and 28, with a strong emphasis on strengthening India’s human capital as the nation advances towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat. The high-level conference is being organised by the Union government and will bring together Chief Secretaries from all States and Union Territories, along with senior officials, policymakers and subject-matter experts.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the central theme of this year’s conference is “Human Capital for Viksit Bharat.” The deliberations are aimed at reinforcing cooperative federalism through structured and sustained Centre–State engagement, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of collaborative governance and shared national goals.

The PMO said the conference serves as a vital platform for the Centre and States to work together in designing a unified roadmap to maximise India’s human capital potential. The focus will be on accelerating inclusive, future-ready growth by moving beyond the traditional view of India’s population as merely a demographic dividend. Instead, the conference seeks to position citizens as productive human capital by framing concrete strategies to strengthen education systems, enhance skilling initiatives and create sustainable employment opportunities across sectors.

The three-day conference, being held from December 26 to 28, is expected to finalise a common development agenda through intensive discussions and experience-sharing. Under the broader theme, special emphasis will be placed on five critical areas that are considered foundational to long-term national progress: Early Childhood Education, School Education, Skilling, Higher Education, and Sports and Extracurricular Activities. States and Union Territories will present best practices, innovative models and actionable strategies that can be replicated or scaled up nationwide.

In addition to the core theme, six special sessions have been scheduled on key reform-oriented and growth-focused subjects. These include Deregulation in States to improve ease of governance and business; Technology in Governance, covering opportunities, risks and mitigation strategies; AgriStack for building smart supply chains and stronger market linkages; One State, One World-Class Tourist Destination to boost tourism-led growth; Atmanirbhar Bharat and Swadeshi to promote self-reliance; and planning for a Post-Left Wing Extremism (LWE) future, focusing on development-led security and governance.

The PMO further noted that focused discussions will also be held over working meals on important cross-cutting themes such as Heritage and Manuscript Preservation and Digitisation, highlighting the need to protect India’s cultural legacy, and Ayush for All, which aims at integrating traditional knowledge systems into primary healthcare delivery for holistic well-being.

The National Conference of Chief Secretaries has emerged as a key annual forum for policy coordination and collective problem-solving. The first edition was held in Dharamshala in June 2022, followed by conferences in New Delhi in January 2023, December 2023 and December 2024. Over the years, the platform has played a significant role in aligning State and national priorities.

Senior officials from all States and Union Territories, along with domain experts, are expected to participate actively. The outcomes of the conference are likely to shape India’s development trajectory in the years ahead, especially in building a skilled, educated and empowered population to realise the vision of a developed India.
Team Maverick.