New Delhi, August 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked senior Union Government officials to adopt a long-term approach to policymaking, break departmental silos and make better coordinated use of data while shaping the future agenda of key ministries.
The Prime Minister chaired the third high-level meeting with Secretaries to the Government of India at his residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. The discussions covered infrastructure and connectivity, security and external affairs, and governance.
Whole-of-government approach
Modi said officials should look beyond immediate administrative issues and statistical targets and consider how their decisions would influence the country’s future. He described departmental silos as more than an organisational problem, saying they could also arise from institutional mindsets.
He called upon senior officials to take ownership of their responsibilities and work with a greater sense of collective purpose. Referring to coordination during the COVID-19 pandemic and the West Asia crisis, he said mechanisms that enable departments to work together effectively should become a regular feature of government functioning.
The meeting followed two earlier rounds of deliberations with groups of Secretaries. Officials shared their experiences regarding sectoral priorities, emerging challenges and implementation concerns. The Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of important ministries and departments, and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office attended.
Data described as a national asset
A major part of the discussion concerned the use of government data. Modi described data as a national asset and a resource for the future. He noted that considerable resources are invested in collecting, storing and managing information, but fragmented systems can prevent the government from realising its full value.
The Prime Minister called for greater interoperability and more effective use of data across departments. Differences in data collection and management practices can make coordination difficult, particularly when programmes involve several ministries or levels of government.
He also advocated the effective use of artificial intelligence while retaining human judgement and intervention. Officials were asked to explore ways of combining technological capabilities with institutional experience rather than treating automation as a substitute for accountable decision-making.
Infrastructure, defence and maritime priorities
Modi urged closer engagement between government departments, universities and young people so that policymaking could benefit from fresh and unconventional perspectives. He also called for greater attention to research and innovation, particularly in defence.
The Prime Minister said India’s defence industry needed to become stronger and more globally competitive. He highlighted the importance of developing innovative defence-related courses and improving human-resource development for the sector.
On maritime development, Modi sought a comprehensive approach to strengthening national capabilities. With shipbuilding having received infrastructure status, he asked officials to assess in mission mode whether the intended objectives were being achieved.
He reiterated the need to move from port development to port-led development. Better connectivity between manufacturing centres, export-oriented units and maritime infrastructure was identified as necessary for improving India’s manufacturing and export performance.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on long-term thinking, inter-departmental coordination, innovation and collective ownership. Modi also encouraged stronger informal interaction and team-building between senior and junior officers across services and cadres.
Sources: Prime Minister’s Office; DD News.
