SYLLABUS

GS-3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Context: Recently, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 52nd meeting of PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) to review major infrastructure projects, TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, and measures to address cybercrime and digital fraud.

Key Highlights of the Meeting

• Infrastructure Project Review: Reviewed 4 critical infrastructure projects in the Road, Power, Industrial Corridor, and Metro Rail sectors across 4 States, involving an investment of around ₹30,000 crore. 

• Focused on timelines, inter-agency coordination, issue resolution, and timely completion. 
• Directed Ministries and State Governments to resolve bottlenecks in a mission-mode manner. 
• Emphasised that project delays lead to cost escalation and deprive citizens and industries of timely benefits. 

• PM GatiShakti-Based Planning: Stressed the effective use of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for integrated planning and implementation. 

• Called for regular updating of project details, utilities, infrastructure layers, and clearances. 
• Emphasised real-time data-driven decision-making to identify and address bottlenecks in advance. 

• TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: Reviewed progress under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. 

• Highlighted the use of Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies for TB surveillance and management. 
• Suggested involving NCC cadets and MY Bharat volunteers for awareness generation, patient follow-up, and community mobilisation. 

• Cyber Crime and Digital Arrest: Reviewed grievances related to cyber fraud and digital arrest scams. 

• Directed agencies to ensure faster response, better coordination, and stronger public awareness. 
• Emphasised strengthening prevention, reporting, investigation, and grievance redressal mechanisms. 
• Urged States to implement e-Zero FIR mechanisms for quicker registration and response to cyber fraud complaints. 

About PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation)

• Launched in 2015, PRAGATI is an ICT-enabled multi-modal platform for monitoring projects, reviewing schemes, and addressing public grievances. 

• Integrates the efforts of the Central Government and State Governments through technology-enabled governance. 

• Serves as a platform for real-time review, coordination, and issue resolution under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister. 

• Origin and Evolution: Inspired by SWAGAT (State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology), launched in Gujarat in 2003. 

• Expanded the concept of technology-enabled grievance redressal to national-level project monitoring and programme implementation. 
• Reflects the governance philosophy of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.” 

• Key Features: Integrates digital data management, video conferencing, and geo-spatial technology. 

• Brings together the Prime Minister, Chief Secretaries of States, and Secretaries of Central Ministries on a single platform. 
• Integrates platforms such as PM GatiShakti, PARIVESH, and PM Ref Portal. 
• Functions as a mechanism for resolving complex inter-ministerial and Centre–State issues. 

• Structured Review Mechanism: Prime Minister chairs PRAGATI meetings with Chief Secretaries and Secretaries of Central Ministries. 

• Infrastructure projects are monitored by the Cabinet Secretariat. 
• Schemes and grievances are reviewed by concerned Ministries under PMO oversight. 
• Critical issues are escalated from Ministries to PRAGATI for timely resolution. 

• Achievements: Reviewed and monitored 382 major national projects. 

• Fast-tracked projects worth over ₹85 lakh crore. 
• Resolved 2,958 out of 3,187 identified issues. 
• Enabled real-time coordination and accountability across multiple levels of government. 

Significance of PRAGATI

• Economic Significance: Accelerates infrastructure delivery, reduces cost overruns, and enables faster realization of economic benefits through improved industrial growth, logistics efficiency, and regional connectivity. 

• Cooperative Federalism: Institutionalises cooperative federalism by bringing Central Ministries and State Governments onto a common real-time decision-making platform, fostering shared ownership and accountability. 

• Governance Significance: Strengthens transparency, accountability, and time-bound implementation while improving inter-ministerial coordination and promoting outcome-oriented governance reforms. 

• Social Significance: Ensures faster delivery of infrastructure and public services, improving access to healthcare, education, markets, employment opportunities, and citizen-centric welfare schemes. 

• Environmental Significance: Supports sustainable infrastructure planning through the PM GatiShakti GIS-based framework, enabling early environmental compliance and reducing delays, resource wastage, and emissions. 

• Global Recognition: Recognised by Saïd Business School as a global best-practice model and a “Single Source of Truth” for real-time project monitoring, coordination, and efficient infrastructure delivery.