Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a critical pre-budget meeting with prominent economists, industry leaders, and thought leaders at NITI Aayog on Tuesday, focusing on strategies to maintain India's economic growth amidst global uncertainties. The meeting’s central theme was “Maintaining India’s growth momentum at a time of global uncertainty,” reflecting the challenges posed by geopolitical tensions and global economic disruptions.
During the discussion, PM Modi emphasized that achieving the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) by 2047 would require a fundamental shift in mindset, with a focus on sustainable growth, inclusive development, and job creation. He reiterated that India’s growth must continue at a robust pace, with the target of achieving a 7-8% growth rate annually.
The meeting featured inputs from various economists on key issues such as enhancing agricultural productivity, improving employment opportunities, and attracting investment in critical sectors like infrastructure. The participants also discussed aligning India’s education system and skill training with the evolving demands of the job market. Experts advocated for a boost in rural employment and creating sustainable job opportunities across sectors to foster inclusive growth.
In addition to boosting internal economic activities, the meeting focused on ways to attract foreign investment, strengthen the country’s export sector, and increase financial inclusion to benefit marginalized sections of society. Economists also deliberated on strategies to mobilize public funds for large-scale infrastructure projects, which could serve as a catalyst for long-term growth and job creation.
Prominent economists and analysts who contributed to the discussion included Surjit S Bhalla, Ashok Gulati, Sudipto Mundle, Dharmakirti Joshi, Janmejaya Sinha, Madan Sabnavis, Amita Batra, Ridham Desai, Chetan Ghate, Bharat Ramaswami, Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Siddhartha Sanyal, Laveesh Bhandari, Rajani Sinha, Keshab Das, Pritam Banerjee, Rahul Bajoria, Nikhil Gupta, and Shashwat Alok, among others.
With the Union Budget 2025-26 around the corner, the insights shared in this pre-budget meeting are expected to shape the government’s approach to ensuring that India not only recovers from global disruptions but accelerates its path toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.
