Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 52nd PRAGATI meeting at Seva Teerth on June 24, 2026. The high-level meeting reviewed four major infrastructure projects worth ₹30,000 crore across four states in the road, power, industrial corridor, and metro sectors. Emphasizing e-governance and timely implementation, the PM directed the use of the PM GatiShakti portal, urged the adoption of AI for the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, and called for an e-Zero FIR mechanism to combat rising cyber frauds like "Digital Arrest". This signifies a major push for multi-modal coordination and digital law enforcement.
On June 24, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 52nd PRAGATI meeting at Seva Teerth. The agenda included a comprehensive review of four stalled or critical infrastructure projects worth ₹30,000 crore. Additionally, the meeting addressed two major social issues: accelerating the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan using digital tools and tackling the rising menace of cybercrimes, specifically the novel modus operandi of "Digital Arrest".
The review meeting took place on June 24, 2026, at Seva Teerth. The four infrastructure projects reviewed span across four unidentified Indian States, highlighting the pan-India administrative scope of the PRAGATI platform.
This development is highly relevant for UPSC GS Paper 2 (E-Governance) and GS Paper 3 (Infrastructure and Internal Security). Economically, clearing ₹30,000 crore worth of projects prevents severe cost overruns and boosts regional industrial growth. Socially, utilizing AI and youth volunteers modernizes India's healthcare delivery. Furthermore, standardizing an e-Zero FIR mechanism for cybercrimes addresses a critical vulnerability in India's rapidly digitizing economy, directly restoring public confidence.
📌 [BACKGROUND — verify independently]
📌 [BACKGROUND — verify independently]
India’s TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan aims to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025, which is five years ahead of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 2030. Furthermore, India's push for digital public infrastructure and centralized dashboards like PM GatiShakti is recognized globally as a pioneering model for developing economies.
Core Concept: PRAGATI Platform
Q1. The 52nd PRAGATI meeting chaired by the Prime Minister reviewed infrastructure projects worth approximately how much? [Easy]
A) ₹10,000 crore
B) ₹20,000 crore
C) ₹30,000 crore
D) ₹50,000 crore
Answer: C
Explanation: The Prime Minister reviewed four critical infrastructure projects costing around ₹30,000 crore.
Q2. Which of the following portals was emphasized by the Prime Minister for the efficient planning of infrastructure projects during the 52nd PRAGATI meeting? [Easy]
A) e-NAM
B) PM GatiShakti National Master Plan
C) PRABANDH
D) CHAMPIONS Portal
Answer: B
Explanation: The PM emphasized the use of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for the timely implementation of infrastructure projects.
Q3. To combat cyber frauds like "Digital Arrest", the Prime Minister stressed that States should work towards enabling which of the following mechanisms? [Moderate]
A) Centralized Cyber Court
B) e-Zero FIR
C) e-Challan System
D) Digital Habeas Corpus
Answer: B
Explanation: The PM emphasized that States should enable e-Zero FIR mechanisms for faster registration and response in cyber fraud cases.
Q4. During the review of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, which specific groups were suggested for community mobilization and patient follow-up? [Moderate]
A) ASHA workers and Anganwadi staff
B) NSS volunteers and Red Cross members
C) NCC cadets and MY Bharat volunteers
D) Medical students and retired army personnel
Answer: C
Explanation: The Prime Minister suggested forming a team of NCC cadets and MY Bharat volunteers for awareness and patient follow-up.
Q5. The infrastructure projects reviewed in the 52nd PRAGATI meeting belonged to which of the following sectors? [Moderate]
A) Aviation, Ports, Highways, and Telecom
B) Road, Power, Industrial Corridor, and Metro Rail
C) Space, Defence, Railways, and Waterways
D) Education, Healthcare, Sanitation, and Housing
Answer: B
Explanation: The four projects reviewed span across the Road, Power, Industrial Corridor, and Metro Rail sectors.
Q6. Consider the mechanism of the PRAGATI platform. Which of the following correctly identifies its core objective as discussed in the latest meeting? [Tricky]
A) It is exclusively a portal for citizens to track their individual cybercrime complaints.
B) It integrates the efforts of Central and State Governments for proactive governance and timely implementation of projects.
C) It is a judicial body established to penalize contractors for project delays.
D) It is an international forum for sharing best practices in multi-modal transport.
Answer: B
Explanation: PRAGATI is an ICT-enabled, multi-modal platform aimed at seamlessly integrating efforts of the Central and State Governments for proactive governance.
Q7. Which emerging technology was specifically highlighted by the PM to be leveraged for the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan? [Tricky]
A) Blockchain Technology
B) Quantum Computing
C) Artificial Intelligence (AI)
D) Internet of Things (IoT)
Answer: C
Explanation: The PM reviewed the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and explicitly emphasized the need to leverage the latest digital technologies including Artificial Intelligence.
Q8. What is the primary advantage of the "Zero FIR" concept in the context of the cybercrimes discussed in the meeting? [Tricky]
A) It ensures the perpetrator gets zero bail.
B) It allows the police to close a fake case immediately.
C) It allows victims to register a complaint regardless of the police station's territorial jurisdiction.
D) It mandates that zero fees be charged for filing a cyber complaint.
Answer: C
Explanation: A Zero FIR allows a police complaint to be registered at any station irrespective of jurisdiction, enabling a faster initial response to crimes like cyber fraud.
PYQ 1:
In the context of internal security and law enforcement, the term "Digital Arrest" recently seen in the news refers to:
A) A new legal provision allowing police to arrest suspects via video conferencing.
B) A cyber fraud modus operandi where scammers impersonate law enforcement officials online to extort money.
C) The blocking of a citizen's social media accounts by the government.
D) The freezing of bank accounts by the RBI due to suspicious crypto transactions.
Answer: B
Explanation: "Digital Arrest" is a rising cybercrime grievance reviewed by the PM, where fraudsters use digital platforms to impersonate agencies and defraud citizens.
PYQ 2:
Consider the following statements regarding the decisions taken in the 52nd PRAGATI meeting:
1. The Prime Minister mandated the use of the PM GatiShakti Master Plan to update utility and clearance data.
2. A dedicated team of NCC cadets and MY Bharat volunteers was proposed to assist in the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
3. The meeting reviewed projects strictly limited to the agricultural sector.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Explanation: Statement 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect because the projects reviewed belonged to the Road, Power, Industrial Corridor, and Metro Rail sectors, not agriculture.
PYQ 3:
Assertion (A): The Prime Minister urged State Governments to enable e-Zero FIR mechanisms for cybercrimes.
Reason (R): Cyber frauds require immediate action to prevent financial loss, and e-Zero FIRs eliminate delays caused by territorial jurisdiction disputes.
Select the correct code:
A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C) A is true but R is false.
D) A is false but R is true.
Answer: A
Explanation: The PM observed that timely action is crucial to prevent financial loss in cyber fraud, making the jurisdictional flexibility of the e-Zero FIR mechanism the correct logical response.
Question 1 (150 words): Discuss how the PRAGATI platform strengthens cooperative federalism and aids in the execution of large-scale infrastructure projects in India.
The PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) platform serves as a vital bridge between the Union and State governments, reinforcing cooperative federalism. By bringing together the Prime Minister, Union Secretaries, and State Chief Secretaries on a single ICT-enabled platform, it bypasses traditional bureaucratic silos. During the 52nd meeting, this mechanism successfully facilitated the review of four critical infrastructure projects spanning four states and worth approximately ₹30,000 crore.
By integrating PRAGATI with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, ministries and states can seamlessly update utility data, track infrastructure layers, and clear administrative bottlenecks in real-time. This mission-mode coordination ensures that projects across the Road, Power, and Metro sectors do not suffer from cost escalations due to delayed state-level clearances. Ultimately, PRAGATI transforms center-state relations from a sequential clearance process into a concurrent, data-driven partnership, ensuring that the economic and public welfare benefits of infrastructure are delivered to citizens efficiently.
Question 2 (250 words): Cybercrimes such as "Digital Arrest" have emerged as a significant threat to citizens and the financial ecosystem. Analyze the institutional and technological measures required to tackle this menace, highlighting the importance of the e-Zero FIR mechanism.
The rapid digitization of India's economy has inadvertently spawned sophisticated cyber threats, with "Digital Arrest"—where scammers impersonate law enforcement on video calls to extort citizens—emerging as a prominent modus operandi. As highlighted in the 52nd PRAGATI meeting, the misuse of digital platforms to defraud citizens poses a severe threat to public confidence and the broader financial ecosystem, necessitating a coordinated, time-bound response.
Institutionally, tackling cyber fraud requires breaking down silos between law enforcement agencies, banks, and digital platforms. Currently, victims often face administrative hurdles, running between different departments while their defrauded money is siphoned off. To counter this, establishing clear ownership and seamless inter-agency coordination is paramount. Technologically, leveraging AI for anomaly detection in banking and proactive threat hunting on digital platforms is essential.
The cornerstone of an immediate response is the e-Zero FIR mechanism. Traditionally, police jurisdiction rules delay the registration of crimes. By enabling e-Zero FIRs, states allow victims to file complaints instantly online, regardless of geographic boundaries. This immediate registration triggers faster financial tracking, allowing the 1930 National Cyber Crime helpline and banks to freeze accounts before the money exits the system.
Moving forward, States must universally adopt e-Zero FIR portals integrated with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Coupled with massive public awareness campaigns and stringent accountability for digital platforms, these measures will fortify India's internal security framework against the growing epidemic of financial cybercrimes.
For Prelims, examiners love matching the names of platforms (like PRAGATI, GatiShakti) with their exact nodal objectives. Pay close attention to the definition of "Zero FIR" as it is a high-probability Polity question. For Mains (GS 2 & 3), use the ₹30,000 crore project clearance as a data point when writing answers on how e-Governance removes administrative bottlenecks and prevents cost-overruns. In Interviews, expect questions on the psychological manipulation behind "Digital Arrest" and how you, as a future administrator, would coordinate between police and banks to protect vulnerable citizens.