The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister in its second meeting laid out a roadmap for stepping up skill development, job creation; enhanced resource investment in the social sector, including for health and education, and boosting infrastructure financing.

According to an official statement, the Council, chaired by Bibek Debroy, Member NITI Aayog, which met here on Friday, also deliberated upon improvements needed in national accounts and innovative steps for unlocking growth, exports and employment potential of growth drivers — including through transformation of India’s gold market.

It formulated far-reaching recommendations to guide the evolving framework for the 15th Finance Commission, including the incentivisation of States for achieving health, education and social inclusion outcomes.

The Council is also evolving the design of a new economy tracking monitor, linking economic growth indicators with social indicators for last mile connectivity, the statement said.

Lead presentations to the Council were made by experts on key themes. Debroy, who made a presentation on infrastructure financing, underlined the need for according it high priority, with new mechanisms for a risk coverage umbrella.

Vinod K Paul, Member NITI Aayog, highlighted strategies for achieving Swastha Bharat by 2022. The Skill Development Strategies were presented by KP Krishnan, Secretary, Skill Development, who highlighted convergent initiatives to reach out to youth and women.

TCA Anant, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, outlined improvements needed in national accounts, complemented by the presentation by Ratan P Watal, Member Secretary EAC-PM, demystifying issues on the current account deficit and the gold market. He also shared recommendations on the evolving framework for the 15th Finance Commission.

The deliberations of the Council took stock of the economic and social analysis done by the theme groups and evolving initiatives led by different members. The Council identified key issues, strategies and recommended interventions in respect of these themes.

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