Oxford study highlights PRAGATI’s transformative role in India’s governance

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 4, 2024

A recent case study conducted by Oxford’s Saïd Business School, with support from the Gates Foundation, has lauded PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) as a revolutionary platform driving India’s infrastructure and social development.

Titled “From Gridlock to Growth: How Leadership Enables India’s PRAGATI Ecosystem to Power Progress”, the study underlines PRAGATI’s contribution to expediting over 340 critical projects worth $205 billion since its launch in March 2015.

This impact highlights how PRAGATI’s innovative approach has bridged gaps in governance through technology-driven collaboration. By integrating digital data management, video-conferencing, and geo-spatial mapping, it enables seamless collaboration between the Prime Minister’s Office, Central Ministries, and State Governments. This direct engagement ensures that issues are addressed in real time, with the Prime Minister personally reviewing progress and removing roadblocks. Such a holistic approach has created a culture of accountability and efficiency, making PRAGATI a model of cooperative federalism and innovative governance.

Designed to integrate key stakeholders and provide up-to-date visuals of ground-level realities, PRAGATI empowers the Prime Minister to monitor, review, and resolve issues with unprecedented efficiency. The platform’s approach to streamlining governance has not only revolutionised decision-making but also strengthened India’s commitment to e-governance and good governance, as highlighted in the study.

Since its inception in 2015, PRAGATI has been a catalyst in transforming India’s infrastructure and social sector development. Through active leadership, strategic project selection, and a robust digital governance framework, the platform has addressed complex challenges across various high-priority projects. The case study explores how PRAGATI has accelerated progress in infrastructure development, resolved roadblocks, fostered collaboration across states, and supported key social initiatives, driving significant improvements in the nation’s development trajectory.

Since its launch in 2015, PRAGATI has emerged as a powerful tool for transforming India’s infrastructure landscape. By June 2023, the platform had reviewed 340 projects valued at Rs 17.05 lakh crore ($205 billion), significantly expediting their implementation. This includes the development of 50,000 kilometres of National Highways and doubling the country’s airports, reflecting a decade of unparalleled progress.

The selection of these 340 projects was highly strategic, focusing on initiatives of national importance that presented unique and complex challenges. PRAGATI has been instrumental in addressing these ‘wicked’ projects, often considered the most daunting in terms of execution.

Since its inception in 2015, PRAGATI has fostered collaboration across states, embodying the concept of “Team India” – a unified approach to national development that transcends political divides. The platform’s video conferencing feature has revolutionized centre-state interactions, providing a neutral space where development goals precede political differences. Bringing together the Prime Minister, central ministry secretaries, and state chief secretaries on a single platform, PRAGATI facilitates direct communication, enabling swift resolution of inter-state and centre-state issues while breaking down traditional bureaucratic silos.

PRAGATI also aligns central ministries, creating a cohesive approach to governance. PRAGATI ensures that decisions are visible to all relevant stakeholders by enabling transparency across departments. This shared visibility and data-sharing minimize delays and prevent projects from getting stuck in bureaucratic bottlenecks, ensuring that development continues smoothly and efficiently.