India’s vision document in final stages: NITI Aayog

Think tank NITI Aayog’s CEO BVR Subrahmanyam revealed that a vision document to propel India into the ranks of developed nations is approaching its final stages, and a draft is anticipated to be ready by December. He further disclosed that this document will be unveiled in three months. 

This ambitious undertaking involved forming ten sectoral groups of secretaries (SGoS) from various ministries, each tasked with crafting a vision document centred on themes such as infrastructure, welfare, commerce and industry, technology, and governance. This comprehensive process spanned nearly two years.

The ten SGoS began crafting their respective vision documents in December 2021, guided by reference notes and standard economic parameters and projections from the Ministry of Finance. These documents, spanning themes from rural and agriculture to security and foreign affairs, have entailed extensive consultations with various stakeholders, including think tanks, research institutions, industry associations, and export promotion councils. For instance, the SGoS focuses on commerce and industry, engaged with over 20,000 individuals.

Subrahmanyam mentioned that the document delineates the sectors and technologies where India should lead by 2047. Additionally, it addresses the essential institutional and structural reforms necessary to achieve these objectives. Subrahmanyam stressed that the final document, ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047,’ will play a pivotal role in steering India clear of the middle-income trap, a pressing concern in policy circles.

The ten SGoS have thoughtfully incorporated eight megatrends projected to reshape the world by 2050 into their vision documents. These trends encompass changes in the demography of India and Africa, income distribution, increased climate-related disasters, and various disruptive developments in technology and geopolitics.

Furthermore, NITI Aayog assists states like Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh in crafting their vision documents, while others such as Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Uttarakhand are independently preparing their documents. Aligning these state-level visions with the national vision document is a challenge NITI Aayog is actively addressing. Subrahmanyam acknowledged that the agency would likely need to provide guidance, given that most states are formulating visions for the next five years. In contrast, the national vision extends far beyond that timeframe.

NITI Aayog, entrusted with consolidating these ten sectoral thematic visions in July, has also made a bold projection that India’s economy will reach an impressive US$ 30 trillion by 2047, with a per capita GDP of US$ 17,590.

Preliminary forecasts from NITI Aayog also anticipate that India’s exports will reach US$ 8.67 trillion by 2047, with imports valued at US$ 12.12 trillion. The policy think tank also foresees an increase in India’s average life expectancy to 71.8 years from 67.2 in 2021 and a rise in the literacy rate to 89.8 % from 77.8% in 2021.

Source: Indian Express