Viksit Bharat finance meet: Centre hosts 2-day state ministers' conference from Sept 19
Synopsis
The Finance Ministry is convening all state finance ministers on 19 September for a rare two-day summit on 'Financing India's Journey towards Viksit Bharat' — covering GST 2.0, agricultural financing, and the energy transition. With 15th Finance Commission alumnus N.K. Singh delivering the keynote, the stakes go beyond a routine policy meet: the outcomes could shape how India's fiscal architecture is redrawn for the next development phase.
Key Takeaways
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair a two-day conference of state and UT finance ministers beginning 19 September 2026 in New Delhi .
The conference theme is 'Financing India's Journey towards Viksit Bharat' , covering macroeconomics, agriculture, and energy transition.
Keynote to be delivered by N.K.
Singh , former Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission .
Background papers include topics on GST 2.0 implications for states and private financing for Viksit Bharat.
Secretaries from MoSPI and MeitY will address growth measurement and technology in governance.
Outcomes are expected to inform the Centre's fiscal planning and potentially the next Finance Commission agenda.
The Finance Ministry will convene a two-day national conference of state and Union Territory finance ministers and finance secretaries beginning Friday, 19 September 2026, centred on 'Financing India's Journey towards Viksit Bharat'. The meeting, to be held in New Delhi, brings together Chief Ministers, finance ministers, and senior officials to deliberate on the financing architecture needed to achieve India's developed-nation ambitions.
Key Sessions and Agenda
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will preside over the conference, which is structured around three thematic sessions: a macroeconomic overview, financing agricultural transformation, and financing the energy transition. Each session is backed by background papers circulated in advance to participants.
The inaugural session will feature a keynote address by N.K. Singh, President and Life Trustee of the Institute of Economic Growth and former Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission. Anuradha Thakur, Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), will outline the conference's objectives, while Sudhir Shrivastava, former Additional Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary of Maharashtra, will present the state-level perspective on Viksit Bharat financing.
Policy Topics Under Discussion
Background papers circulated ahead of the conference cover a wide range of policy areas, including macroeconomic milestones and pathways towards Viksit Bharat, private financing for Viksit Bharat, and the implications of GST 2.0 for states. Agricultural financing topics include market and marketing support, resilience, and sustainable resource use.
On the energy side, discussions will cover financing renewable energy and transmission assets, as well as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage — reflecting the Centre's push to align state-level investment with national net-zero commitments.
Technology and Data Governance in Focus
Saurabh Garg, Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), will address the importance of measuring growth outcomes in India's Viksit Bharat journey. S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), will highlight the role of new-age technology in strengthening governance — signalling that the conference extends beyond fiscal policy into digital infrastructure.
Centre-State Policy Alignment
The conference is designed to surface and strengthen policy complementarities between the Centre and the states, combining academic research with practical policy experience. This comes amid ongoing negotiations over fiscal devolution, GST revenue-sharing, and capital expenditure co-financing — all of which are critical to states' capacity to fund development targets. Notably, this is one of the few structured forums where state finance ministers collectively engage with the Union government on medium-term financing strategy.
The outcomes of the two-day deliberations are expected to feed into the Centre's broader fiscal planning cycle and potentially shape the agenda for the next Finance Commission ahead of its constituted term.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Financing India's Journey towards Viksit Bharat' conference?
It is a two-day national conference organised by the Finance Ministry beginning 19 September 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together state and UT finance ministers, Chief Ministers, and senior officials to deliberate on financing challenges and policy priorities for India's development goals. The conference covers macroeconomics, agriculture, and energy transition.
Who is chairing the Viksit Bharat finance conference?
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will preside over the conference. The keynote address at the inaugural session will be delivered by N.K. Singh, former Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission and President of the Institute of Economic Growth.
What policy topics will the conference cover?
The conference will cover macroeconomic milestones towards Viksit Bharat, private financing, GST 2.0 implications for states, agricultural market financing, resilience in Indian agriculture, renewable energy and transmission assets, and carbon capture utilisation and storage.
Why does the GST 2.0 discussion matter for states?
GST 2.0 refers to a potential structural overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax regime, with significant implications for how revenue is shared between the Centre and states. Several states have raised concerns about fiscal autonomy under the existing framework, making this one of the most consequential topics on the conference agenda.
What is the significance of including MoSPI and MeitY secretaries in the conference?
Their inclusion signals that the conference goes beyond fiscal policy to address governance quality: MoSPI Secretary Saurabh Garg will speak on measuring growth outcomes, while MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan will highlight the role of technology in good governance — both critical to translating financing commitments into verifiable development outcomes.
