Good centre-state coordination needed: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stressed the need to have good coordination between the central government and state governments for better development.

Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here, he said: "India is not going to progress from Delhi. States have the most important role in India's progress. States and Centre must work together... Better development in the country will be witnessed if the Centre and states work together."

The prime minister said India's ranking in "Ease of Doing Business" had risen by 12 ranks and states such as Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh had contributed to the process.

"The states have new strength... Both have to move together in one direction and results will come," he said.

"Till now Delhi decided where states will spend money. This has changed, and now CMs (chief ministers) decide where the money will be spent. I thank them for their support.

"It is important that the world knows about our states and the strengths of our states."

Stating that the country was progressing towards a bright future, Modi said: "Among world economies, India is seen as one of the fastest growing. All this is when the world economy is slowing down.

"Let us place what is happening in India in the context of the world and in the context of what we witnessed in the recent past."