NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), Government of Maharashtra successfully conducted the 2^nd Regional Dialogue under the State Support Mission (SSM) on 25^th September 2025 at YASHADA in Pune. This dialogue brought together senior officials from 11 Western and Southern States and UTs to share their experience on SSM initiatives and learn from each other, following the 1^st Regional Dialogue held in Dehradun earlier this year with participants from Northern States & Union Territories. The discussions highlighted the pivotal role of State Institutions for Transformation (SIT) in guiding State visions, advancing reforms, and aligning with the national aspiration of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The inaugural session was graced by Dr. Arvind Virmani, Member, NITI Aayog, Shri Praveen Pardeshi, CEO, MITRA, Shri Rohit Kumar, Additional Secretary, NITI Aayog and othersenior officers of NITI Aayog. The deliberations across sessions underscored the emerging pivotal role of the State Institutions for Transformation across different States and various sessions through the day focused around key growth enablers and drivers towards Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat.

The Regional Dialogue featured sessions on strengthening State Institutions of Transformation (SITs) as multi-disciplinary hubs for long-term visioning, evidence-based policy, and future-ready governance. CEO, MITRA; Vice Chairperson, State Institute for Empowering and Transforming Uttarakhand (SETU) Aayog Uttarakhand; CEO, Madhya Pradesh Rajya NITI Aayog, Senior Public Specialist from World Bank shared national and global models of institutional design. The talk highlighted how State-level think tanks (SITs) can drive reforms, support evidence-based policymaking, and institutionalise long-term visioning - crucial for both current policy and shaping India’s future towards Viksit Bharat @2047.

The session on the 4Ds of Good Governance- Data to Decision, Decision to Development highlighted how States can leverage data for better policy and accelerate delivery. Experts from DMEO, MoSPI, BISAG-N, RBI and others shared innovative approaches, including digital enablers, geospatial applications like PM Gati Shakti and the use of administrative, survey and geospatial data, triangulating insights, and applying ML/AI tools. The discussion showcased how the 4Ds can turn data into actionable outcomes to enhance governance.

Further sessions focused on Harnessing Frontier Technologies for Viksit Bharat @2047 focused on AI, data centres and emerging technologies as catalysts for State innovation, Announcement of the Frontier Tech Policy Repository was also made. Discussions on Growth Hubs presented a new approach to urbanisation by positioning city regions as engines of prosperity. The session on State Vision @2047 stressed the importance of building dynamic, data-driven visions for development, while the concluding session underlined the pivotal role of Lead Knowledge Institutions (LKIs) in driving research, innovation, and policy excellence across States and UTs.

Alongside the technical sessions, an exhibition was inaugurated showcasing platforms and tools for evidence-based governance. Highlights included the NITI for States portal, Viksit Bharat Strategy Room, Meghalaya’s Mother Program, geospatial applications by BISAG-N, real-time translation and minutes tool by Bhashini (MeitY), and the Experience in a Box device designed to enable data-driven decision-making in aspirational districts and blocks. The Compendiums on Key takeaways from NITI-State Workshop Series under State Support Mission (SSM) comprising of outcomes from more than 50 workshops held across States/UTs over last 2 years was also released during the NITI Regional Dialogue.

The workshop concluded with consensus on the pivotal role of SITs as the backbone of governance transformation, reaffirming that strong, data-driven State Institutions are critical to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047

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MJPS/SR

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