Shah, Rajnath to spearhead reform push as Govt forms two high-powered ministerial panels

In a sweeping move to fast-track structural reforms, the central government has constituted two high-powered informal groups of ministers (iGoMs), led by Home Minister Amit Shah and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, to chart out a transformative roadmap for India’s economic and social sectors.

The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address, where he called for “next-generation reforms” to build a 21st-century governance framework and realize the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047.

Shah’s 13-member panel, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal among its key members, will focus on economic, technology, finance, and governance reforms. Railways, I&B and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will serve as convener.

Rajnath Singh’s 18-member group, with Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya as convener, will address reforms in social, welfare, and security sectors, including healthcare, education, defence, skilling, labour, housing, and public health. Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Shivraj Singh Chouhan are among its prominent members.

Both groups are mandated to submit monthly progress reports, culminating in a consolidated reform blueprint within three months. Their remit extends beyond advisory roles: they are expected to recommend measurable, outcome-driven reforms, such as reducing compliance burdens, boosting job creation, dismantling legacy bottlenecks, and identifying legal and policy overhauls across central, state, and local levels.

According to officials, the panels will also propose legislative changes, including repeals or new draft laws for emerging sectors like digital health, fintech, and the gig economy. Secretarial support will come from the Department of Economic Affairs.

A senior government source said, “These panels are not about abstract ideas but about producing actionable reforms that can be tracked and measured. The aim is clear: align India’s governance and economic systems with global standards while easing life for citizens and businesses.”

Amit Shah has, in recent months, been increasingly drawn into critical economic decision-making, from helping build consensus on GST reforms to steering discussions on disinvestment and food inflation. His intervention has often been seen as crucial in resolving politically sensitive issues requiring state-level buy-in.

Meanwhile, the Centre’s ongoing policy churn — such as the draft Bill banning real-money online gaming — highlights the expanding role of ministries like Home Affairs in shaping sectoral regulation, underscoring the government’s emphasis on coordinated, cross-ministerial reform.

The two new panels, say officials, are designed to carry forward that urgency — reshaping India’s governance and reform agenda with the long horizon of 2047 firmly in view.