Govt Plans ‘Champion CPSEs’ for Viksit Bharat by 2047, NITI Aayog Roadmap Soon

Why It Matters

Empowering select CPSEs with autonomy and cutting‑edge tech can accelerate India’s industrial competitiveness and help meet the 2047 development target. The initiative signals a shift toward market‑driven public enterprises, potentially attracting private talent and capital.

Key Takeaways

• Champion CPSEs to receive enhanced decision‑making autonomy
• Roadmap emphasizes AI, IoT, digital twins, 3D printing
• Targeted firms include Indian Rare Earths, Bharat Electronics, Mazagon
• Goal: accelerate India’s growth to become developed by 2047
• NITI Aayog coordinates with finance ministry on reforms

Pulse Analysis

The Indian government’s latest push to reshape its central public sector enterprises arrives at a pivotal moment for the country’s growth agenda. Historically, CPSEs have been hampered by bureaucratic oversight, limited capital flexibility, and lagging innovation, which constrained their contribution to GDP. By commissioning NITI Aayog to draft a dedicated roadmap, policymakers aim to convert these legacy entities into engines of productivity that can compete globally. This strategic recalibration aligns with the broader ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision, which seeks to transition India from a developing to a developed economy within the next two decades.

The ‘champion CPSE’ model centers on granting selected firms expansive decision‑making freedom, from capital allocation to talent acquisition, and even the ability to pursue strategic overseas investments. Crucially, the roadmap mandates the integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution tools—artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, digital twins, and 3D printing—to modernize operations and unlock new revenue streams. Companies such as Indian Rare Earths, Bharat Electronics, and Mazagon Dock are on the reform shortlist, positioning them to become technology‑driven, financially robust players that can support national priorities like defense, energy, and rare‑earth supply chains.

For investors and industry observers, the champion CPSE initiative signals a shift toward a more market‑oriented public sector, potentially improving corporate governance and profitability. Enhanced autonomy may attract private‑sector talent and foster partnerships that accelerate innovation cycles. However, success will hinge on transparent implementation, adequate capital infusion, and consistent policy support. If executed effectively, these reformed enterprises could boost export potential, reduce import dependence, and contribute significantly to India’s ambition of achieving developed‑nation status by 2047, reshaping the competitive landscape across multiple sectors.

Govt plans ‘Champion CPSEs’ for Viksit Bharat by 2047, NITI Aayog roadmap soon

By Banikinkar Pattanayak & Anuradha Shukla, ET Bureau · Last Updated: Feb 17 2026, 06:19 AM IST

India is preparing to create ‘champion’ public‑sector companies. These firms will boost economic growth and technology, with the goal of helping India become a developed nation by 2047. The companies will enjoy greater freedom in decision‑making and talent hiring, and will use new technologies for better performance.

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The government is finalising a road‑map to create “champion” central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) that would help India realise its goal to emerge as a developed nation by 2047 through sustained economic growth and technological advancements, senior officials said.

The road‑map, prepared by NITI Aayog in close coordination with the finance ministry, will outline steps to bolster the CPSEs’ financial muscle, technological prowess, corporate governance, talent pool and overall operational efficiency. The details will be released soon.

The idea is to create a vibrant, non‑intrusive CPSE ecosystem that supplements the government’s efforts to catapult India into a higher growth orbit and to play a larger strategic role when required.

These “champion CPSEs” would have greater flexibility in their investment and other corporate decisions, in tapping opportunities abroad that align with the country’s strategic goals and hiring talent from the private sector.

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Operational focus

They would be pushed by the government to leverage enablers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution—including the deployment of AI, Internet of Things, Digital Twins and 3D printing—for operational excellence and strategic power, officials said.

“They will essentially be modern CPSEs for a developed India in every sense,” said one of the officials.

The initiative, led by NITI Aayog member Rajiv Gauba, is part of broader government efforts to create future‑ready CPSEs. Gauba held a meeting last week for this purpose.

“Just like the recent budget announcement on creating MSME champions through targeted government interventions, this is being planned for CPSEs,” he added.

In August last year, ET reported that the Department of Public Enterprises had shortlisted about a dozen entities for systemic and technical reforms. These include Indian Rare Earths, Bharat Electronics, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Nuclear Power Corporation of India, REC and Central Warehousing Corporation.

The country had 475 CPSEs as of March 2025, of which 291 were operational, according to the latest public‑enterprises survey.