New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that empowering India’s youth remains a priority as they will be the "driving force" in the country’s journey towards Viksit Bharat.  Chairing the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting here, PM Modi said: "India's demographic dividend is a historic opportunity that we cannot afford to lose. Creating the right ecosystem for our youth through quality education, demand-driven skilling, and employment opportunities must remain a priority. Empowered youth will be the driving force behind our journey towards Viksit Bharat."He also highlighted that India has signed Free Trade Agreements with many countries to create new opportunities for growth and exports."These agreements also present a significant opportunity for our MSMEs, enabling them to prepare for global markets by adhering to international standards and enhancing competitiveness," PM Modi pointed out.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the Centre and states were working together to accelerate the country’s growth momentum to achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047."Guided by the spirit of cooperative federalism, we are working together to accelerate India’s development journey. The collective efforts of the Centre and States will play a pivotal role in realising our shared vision of Viksit Bharat," he observed.The theme of this year's NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting is 'Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047', focusing on the well-being and development of every Indian, regardless of age, region, gender, or socio-economic background, according to an official statement.The meeting is deliberating on the approach to realise this vision and translate it into concrete, measurable outcomes for every citizen across the country, it added.The Governing Council Meeting is being attended by Chief Ministers of states and Lt Governors of Union Territories and Union Ministers as ex-officio members. The discussions are focused on the Inclusive Human Development Framework, anchored around four core pillars of foundational human capital and future-ready skills; productive employment, entrepreneurship and decentralised growth; health, nutrition and wellbeing; and equity and dignity for all.

Measures for promoting entrepreneurship, enhancing skilling, and creating sustainable employment opportunities across the country will also be deliberated upon in the meeting.The discussions will further focus on collectively charting an implementation roadmap that leverages key enablers, including governance, digital public infrastructure (DPI), convergence, partnerships, and data-driven systems, alongside a structured mechanism to track short, medium, and long-term outcomes, ensuring accountability and measurable impact.A key thrust will be on aligning state visions with the national vision on inclusive human development, reinforcing a unified and collaborative approach toward equitable and sustainable growth.

/IANS