On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed all chief ministers in the third meeting of NITI Aayog’s Governing Council.
The third meeting of the council began at Rashtrapati Bhavan with the main agenda of deliberating on the 15-year Vision Document to accelerate the country's economic development. These were the key highlights of the meeting.
NITI Aayog came out with 300 specific action points for accelerating the economic growth of the country. However, no specific details about the action plan were available.
The action points are part of the presentation on a 15-year long-term vision accompanied by a 7-year strategy and a 3-year action agenda, an official statement said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the consensus on Goods and Services Tax (GST) reflects the spirit of 'one nation, one aspiration, one determination'.
While the GST Council has decided on a four-tier rate structure of 5, 12, 18 and 28 percent, its Fitment Committee will devise a formula for tax rate to be levied on different products and services under the GST regime from July.
PM Modi pitched for shifting to a January-December fiscal year.
Modi asked the states to take the initiative in this regard. Currently, India follows April- March as fiscal year.
Later NITI Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya said the PM wants that "we should think of January-December financial year as this is appropriate from the point of view of farmers".
The PM called for carrying forward the debate and discussion on simultaneous Central and state elections.
The Indian economy will see an over three-fold expansion at $7.25 trillion by 2030 and clock an average growth rate of 8 percent over the next 15 years, said NITI Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya.
The country's GDP stood at around USD 2.11 trillion in 2015-16, he said.
When asked whether the Aayog has given up hopes of double-digit growth, he said, "We could grow at 8 percent in rupee and 10 percent in dollar terms."
PM Modi called upon states to "speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation" to spur economic growth. He said the vision of 'New India' can only be realised through the combined efforts and cooperation of all the states.
Modi urged all chief ministers to take care of students from Jammu and Kashmir in their respective states.
Modi's advice at a meeting with chief ministers came after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti raised the issue.
The Prime Minister "urged states to reach out to these students (of J&K) from time to time," said a statement by the PMO quoting Modi's concluding remarks.
Tamil Nadu CM K Palaniswami raised a number of issues concerning Tamil Nadu, including its demand for exemption from NEET test.
Tamil Nadu has been insisting that it be given exemption from the National Entrance Cum Eligibility Test (NEET) for MBBS and BDS courses, with the state Assembly having adopted two Bills in this regard.
The Bills are since awaiting Presidential assent.
CM Palaniswami also brought up the issue of Tamil Nadu farmers protesting at Jantar Mantar. They "temporarily" called off their agitation on Sunday after over 40 days after Palaniswami "promised" to meet their demands.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh urged the NITI Aayog for a one-time waiver of the state's Rs 1,82,000 crore debt and sought a special financial package from the Centre to promote industries.
The chief minister's appeal for the central assistance was taken on record in the form of a speech as he could not attend the meeting.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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