FM Sitharaman to meet state finance ministers on September 18-19 to discuss financing for Viksit Bharat
📅 September 19, 2026
⏱ 2 min read
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will meet state finance ministers and finance secretaries on September 18-19 to discuss financing challenges and policy priorities for India’s development, with the two-day conference focusing on the macroeconomic outlook, agricultural transformation and financing the energy transition.
The conference in New Delhi comes ahead of the October 7 meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, chaired by Sitharaman and comprising finance ministers from states and Union Territories with legislatures.
The Finance Ministry said the conference will focus on policy complementarities between the Centre and states.
The first thematic session will focus on the macroeconomic overview, including India’s development milestones and pathways towards Viksit Bharat. Discussions will also cover the role of private financing in meeting the country’s development requirements.
The second session will examine financing agricultural transformation, including financing agricultural markets and marketing, as well as resilience and sustainable resource use in Indian agriculture.
The third thematic session will focus on financing the energy transition, including financing renewable energy and transmission assets, and carbon capture, utilisation and storage.
The conference will also take up the implications of GST 2.0 for states, an issue of particular relevance ahead of the next GST Council meeting.
The Finance Ministry said the conference is intended to bring together “academic rigour and practical policy” to deliberate on “financing challenges and policy priorities for India’s development journey”.
The discussions will also cover how growth outcomes can be measured as India progresses towards Viksit Bharat and the role of new-age technology in good governance.
Several chief ministers and finance ministers from states are expected to participate, along with senior state officials, the ministry said.
