All 28 Indian States Attend Niti Aayog Meeting for First Time, Ending Pattern of Boycotts
India's Niti Aayog governing council meeting achieved 100% attendance for the first time, with chief ministers from all 28 states present, including opposition-governed states that had previously boycotted. Karnataka's new Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar ended his state's Congress-era boycott by attending and meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The historic turnout signals a shift toward cooperative federalism, with officials noting discussions were cordial and free of political friction.
Thursday's Niti Aayog governing council meeting marked a historic first, with chief ministers from all 28 Indian states in attendance — a sharp departure from previous meetings that saw significant absences driven by political tensions between opposition-ruled states and the Centre. In 2024, as many as 10 chief ministers had been absent, while nine had stayed away in 2023. Opposition-governed states including Kerala, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and AAP-ruled Punjab all participated this time. Karnataka's D.K. Shivakumar, who recently became chief minister, broke the boycott maintained by the previous Congress administration in the state. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly commented on the positive mood in the room, and officials described discussions as cordial with no political issues raised. The meeting's key outcome was a collective reaffirmation of the Viksit Bharat (Developed India) goal, with Niti Aayog noting that 20 states have already prepared their Viksit State roadmaps and 10 more are expected to complete theirs within months.
What's missing
The article does not detail the specific policy agenda items discussed during the meeting.
What different sources said
- Times of IndiaCenter
Historic 100% attendance at Niti meet, DKS breaks Karnataka boycott
Related
Workers Begin Removing Trump's Name from Kennedy Center Facade After Court-Ordered Deadline
Workers started stripping President Trump's name from the exterior of the Kennedy Center in Washington overnight Friday into Saturday, hours past a court-ordered deadline of 11:59 p.m. Friday. The delay was attributed to nearby thunderstorms, and the Kennedy Center's board sought a 12-hour extension, which U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper had already denied after rejecting the board's last-minute attempt to halt the order. The removal marks a significant legal rebuke of the Trump administration's effort to rename the historic performing arts venue, with a court ruling that only Congress has the authority to change the Kennedy Center's name.
Hasan Piker Campaigns for DSA-Backed NYC Candidates, Sparking Debate Over Democratic Party Direction
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker rallied in Brooklyn for two Democratic Socialist of America-endorsed congressional candidates ahead of New York's June 23 primary, declaring the country is 'closer than ever' to socialism. The appearances come amid a broader debate within the Democratic Party over whether to embrace or distance itself from Piker, whose pro-Palestinian views and provocative statements have made him a polarizing figure. The controversy highlights a growing tension between the party's centrist establishment and its increasingly left-leaning base, particularly on foreign policy.
Fire Rescue Victoria Has Missed Emergency Response Targets Every Year Since 2020, With Outer Suburbs Worst Affected
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) has failed to meet its target of responding to 90 per cent of structural fires within seven minutes and 42 seconds in every year since its formation in 2020, with outer suburban areas recording the worst performance. The shortfall has come into sharp focus following the death of three-year-old Jordan Dashwood in a Werribee house fire this month, where the nearest FRV truck was committed to another incident and the first responders arrived well outside the benchmark time. The findings raise serious questions about whether the 2020 fire services restructure has been adequately resourced to protect Melbourne's rapidly growing outer suburbs.