PRAGATI is an ICT-based, multi-modal governance platform whose full form is Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. It was launched on March 25, 2015, by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in coordination with the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The platform was created to solve the persistent problem of project delays, cost overruns, and slow grievance redressal caused by bureaucratic silos and fragmented accountability in India's public projects and schemes.
The mechanism is a three-tier system involving the Prime Minister, the Secretaries of the Government of India, and the Chief Secretaries of the States. The Prime Minister chairs a monthly interaction, often referred to as 'PRAGATI Day' (held on the fourth Wednesday of every month), via video-conferencing to review and monitor key issues. The platform integrates three technologies: digital data management, video-conferencing, and geo-spatial technology, allowing the Prime Minister to see real-time updates and ground-level visuals of projects. Issues for review are sourced from databases related to public grievances (like the CPGRAMS), ongoing programmes, and pending projects.
PRAGATI is a strong example of cooperative federalism as it brings Central and State officials onto a single digital interface to resolve inter-ministerial and Centre–State bottlenecks, thereby accelerating the implementation of critical infrastructure projects. The system is designed to enforce e-transparency and e-accountability by ensuring that directions given by the Prime Minister remain in the system for follow-up until the matter is resolved. While the core structure remains the same, the platform has evolved, with discussions around a potential PRAGATI 2.0 in 2023 to expand its scope by integrating platforms like Aadhaar, DigiLocker, and UMANG for broader service delivery and grievance redressal.