NITI Aayog Meet 2025: Stalin, Mann Raise Funds and Water Concerns

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 24th May: The 10th Governing Council meeting of the Niti Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday witnessed a renewed push for cooperative federalism, with the Prime Minister urging states to work collectively towards the goal of a developed India by 2047. However, the session also saw opposition chief ministers voicing key grievances regarding resource allocation, particularly funds and water sharing.

Tamil Nadu Seeks Fair Fiscal Devolution
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin called on the Centre to increase the states’ share of divisible tax revenue to 50%, criticizing the current mechanism as inequitable. Citing data, he said states had received only 33.16% of the Union Government’s gross tax revenue over the past four years, despite the 15th Finance Commission recommending a 41% share.

“It is not ideal for states in a federal democracy like India to struggle, argue, or litigate to receive the funds rightfully due to them,” Stalin said. He also highlighted the increasing burden of state contributions to centrally sponsored schemes, which he said was straining finances.

While reiterating his government’s opposition to the three-language policy under the National Education Policy, the DMK leader urged the Union government to ensure non-discriminatory cooperation with all states. Stalin accused the Centre of withholding over ₹2,000 crore from Tamil Nadu, allegedly due to the state’s stance on language policy.

Despite his criticism, Stalin supported PM Modi’s vision of a $30 trillion economy by 2047, expressing hope for more inclusive policy-making.

Punjab Flags Water Crisis, Demands Yamuna Access
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann raised a strong objection to the Satluj-Yamuna-Link (SYL) canal project, stating that Punjab has no water to share with Haryana. Instead, he proposed the construction of a Yamuna-Sutlej-Link (YSL) canal, arguing that water should flow from surplus to deficit basins.

Mann cited a 1954 pact between undivided Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, which entitled Punjab to two-thirds of the Yamuna’s water, claiming that Punjab’s share was ignored during the state’s reorganisation. The Aam Aadmi Party leader demanded that Punjab be included in future negotiations on Yamuna water allocation.

He also referred to a 1972 Irrigation Commission report that identified post-1966 Punjab as falling within the Yamuna River Basin, reinforcing the state’s claim to Yamuna water.

Notable Absentees
The meeting was attended by most state leaders, although West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah, Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan, Bihar’s Nitish Kumar, and Puducherry’s N Rangaswamy skipped the session.

While the Centre focused on a united developmental agenda, the meeting underscored the growing rift over fiscal and federal policies, as several states pushed back against what they perceive as disproportionate central control over vital resources.