PM Modi stresses reforms for 'Ease of Living, Business' for Viksit Bharat in council of ministers meeting
New Delhi, May 22
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday shared details about his meeting with the Council of Ministers, saying that discussions focused on boosting 'Ease of Living', improving the 'Ease of Doing Business', and accelerating reforms to realise the shared vision of a 'Viksit Bharat'.
Taking to the social media platform X, PM Modi said, "Had a fruitful meeting of the Council of Ministers yesterday. We exchanged perspectives and best practices relating to boosting 'Ease of Living, 'Ease of Doing Business' and how to further reforms in order to realise our shared dream of a Viksit Bharat."
Prime Minister Modi chaired a marathon four-and-a-half-hour meeting with the Council of Ministers on Thursday, where he delivered a strong message ahead of the government completing 12 years at the Centre next month.
According to sources quoted by NDTV, the Prime Minister urged ministers to focus on the future, accelerate reforms, and ensure that governance remains centred on public welfare and ease of living.
"Forget what happened in the past, focus on the future," PM Modi reportedly told ministers during the closed-door meeting.
The high-level meeting comes amid speculation about a possible Cabinet reshuffle before June 9, when the Modi government will complete 12 years at the Centre and two years of its third term.
The Prime Minister stressed that every ministry must work with 'Viksit Bharat 2047' as its guiding vision. He said reforms should not remain confined to paperwork but must translate into faster, simpler and more effective governance for citizens.
Sources said PM Modi also emphasised the need for quicker movement of files without unnecessary bureaucratic delays and asked ministers to maximise productivity within the available time.
Nine departments made presentations before the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. These included the Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry, Labour, Road Transport, Corporate Affairs, External Affairs, Commerce and Power, sources told NDTV.
The Prime Minister further underlined the importance of simplifying government functioning and ensuring that public interest remains the foremost priority across all ministries.
According to sources, PM Modi also asked ministers to directly communicate the Central government's 12-year journey, welfare initiatives and reform agenda to the people.
The meeting included a presentation on the achievements and reforms undertaken over the last 12 years. Ministries had earlier submitted detailed reports to the Cabinet Secretariat outlining reforms carried out over the past two years, along with future policy plans.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also briefed the Council of Ministers on the government's recent five-nation diplomatic outreach, which sources described as successful.
This was the first meeting of the full Council of Ministers in nearly 11 months. The previous meeting was held on June 4 last year.
Sources told NDTV that PM Modi is expected to sharpen the government's reform push in the coming months amid global uncertainties and ongoing tensions in West Asia.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Four-and-a-half-hour meeting shows the seriousness 🙏. But honestly, I'm a bit tired of hearing about 'Ease of Doing Business' when as a small business owner, I still struggle with GST filing and local permits. The intent is good, but the execution needs to be more seamless. No more red tape please!
"Forget what happened in the past, focus on the future" - this is what true leadership sounds like. No blame games, just work. The Viksit Bharat 2047 vision is ambitious, and if we maintain this pace of reforms, we can definitely achieve it. Proud to see such focused governance after 12 years.
Interesting to see India's reform push. As someone who follows global economics, I think the focus on both business and citizen services simultaneously is smart. But I hope this isn't just pre-election rhetoric. India needs sustained reforms, not just before key anniversaries.
The mention of nine ministries presenting is encouraging - it shows a whole-of-government approach. But I wish there was more focus on agriculture and rural development. My family in a small town still faces basic issues like water and electricity. Viksit Bharat must mean better living standards for everyone, not just metro cities.
Cabinet reshuffle speculation aside, what matters is this government's delivery record. 12 years is a long time, and we've moved from being a fragile economy to the 5th largest globally. The Viksit Bharat dream needs this reform engine. Let's hope the momentum doesn't slow down due to elections
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