Why In News?

The Prime Minister chaired the 54th meeting of PRAGATI at Seva Teerth in New Delhi.

What is PRAGATI?

PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) is a multi-purpose, multi-modal ICT (Information and Communication Technology) platform launched in March 2015 by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) under the Digital India program. 

PRAGATI draws its core operational philosophy from SWAGAT (State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology), an e-governance platform launched in 2003 in Gujarat to address public grievances through digital technology

Core Objectives

  • Eliminate Delays and Cost Overruns: Tackle chronic timelines and budget overruns that historically plagued large public and infrastructure projects. 

  • Grievance Redressal: Provide a transparent mechanism to address common citizen grievances.  

  • Real-Time Monitoring: Review and monitor key central and state government schemes and projects. 

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  • Foster Cooperative Federalism: Bring the Prime Minister, Union Secretaries, and State Chief Secretaries onto a single collaborative platform ("Team India" spirit).  

 Three-Tier Working Structure

PRAGATI operates on a unique 3-tier system:  

  1. Tier 1 (Apex Level): Prime Minister's Office (PMO) – Chaired directly by the Prime Minister.

  2. Tier 2 (Mid Level): Union Government Secretaries.

  3. Tier 3 (Field Level): Chief Secretaries of the States. 

  • PRAGATI Day: Held once every month, generally on the fourth Wednesday at 3:30 PM via video conferencing.

  • Data Sources: It integrates existing databases such as CPGRAMS (Central Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System), the Project Monitoring Group (PMG), and inputs from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and e-Samiksha.  

Key Technological Pillars

  • Digital Data Management: Consolidates real-time project metrics and public complaints.

  • Video Conferencing: Enables direct, face-to-face virtual reviews between the PM and state/central civil servants.

  • Geo-Spatial Technology: Utilizes satellite and drone visuals to track actual ground-level physical progress. 

Shift in Governance  

Traditional Bureaucratic Governance

PRAGATI-Led Governance

Strict Bureaucratic Hierarchy: Departments work in rigid, isolated silos.

Collaborative Structure: Fosters a "Team India" spirit across central and state layers.

Top-Down Decision Making: Commands flow down without real-time feedback.

Decentralised / Ground-up Inputs: Backed by real-time visuals and field-level updates.

Information Asymmetry: File delays hide project bottlenecks.

E-Transparency & Accountability: Creates a "single source of truth" for monitoring.

Chronic Delays: Major time and cost overruns.

Timely Implementation: Direct PM oversight accelerates deadlocks.

Key Impacts & Achievements

An external study by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School hailed PRAGATI as a global benchmark for project monitoring. Key successes include:   

  • High Resolution Rate: The platform boasts an issue resolution rate of around 94%, effectively unlocking hundreds of long-pending projects.

  • Financial Value: It has successfully fast-tracked over 340 major delayed infrastructure projects valued at approximately USD 205 billion.

  • Notable Successes: Accelerated mega projects like the Bogibeel Bridge (Assam), the Chenab Bridge (J&K), and the execution of the Jal Jeevan Mission.

  • Cooperative Federalism: By bringing State Chief Secretaries and Union Ministries onto the same screen, it minimizes friction between federal tiers, facilitating rapid environmental and land clearances (integrated via the PARIVESH portal).  

Source: PIB

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to the PRAGATI platform, consider the following statements:

  1. It is a three-tier system combining the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of States.

  2. It was conceptualized drawing inspiration from Gujarat's SWAGAT platform.

  3. It relies exclusively on physical site inspections conducted by the Cabinet Secretariat for monitoring.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (A)

Explanation:  

Statement 1 is correct: The PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) platform operates on a unique three-tier system. This architecture directly connects the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Union Government Secretaries, and the Chief Secretaries of States.

Statement 2 is correct: The portal was conceptualized by drawing direct inspiration from Gujarat’s highly successful SWAGAT (State-Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology) initiative, which was launched in 2003 under the leadership of Narendra Modi during his tenure as Chief Minister.

Statement 3 is incorrect: PRAGATI does not rely on physical site inspections. Instead, it is an ICT-based multi-modal online platform that utilizes modern digital tools, including video conferencing, digital data management, and geo-spatial (GIS)