Report on PRAGATI'S impact on infrastructure, social development released by Oxford University
Bengaluru: The University of Oxford's Saïd Business School has unveiled a case study analyzing the transformative impact of India’s PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) digital platform on infrastructure and social development projects under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Titled “From Gridlock to Growth: How Leadership Enables India's PRAGATI Ecosystem to Power Progress,” the study was launched on Monday at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore. The event featured a presentation by Professor Soumitra Dutta, Dean of Oxford's Saïd Business School and the study’s lead author. A panel discussion followed, with insights shared by prominent leaders in infrastructure and governance, including Adil Zainulbhai, Chair of the Capacity Building Commission; S.N. Subrahmanyam, CMD of Larsen & Toubro; and Rishikesha Krishnan, Director of IIM Bangalore.
The study examines how PRAGATI has accelerated the implementation of 340 critical projects worth ₹17.05 lakh crore ($205 billion) since its inception in 2015. By leveraging technology for proactive governance, the platform has enabled timely interventions and efficient problem-solving for large-scale initiatives. The findings draw from extensive interviews with government officials, project managers, and field workers across India.
Speaking at the event, Professor Dutta emphasized the importance of leadership in driving digital innovation to address infrastructure bottlenecks in emerging economies. "The PRAGATI platform stands as a testament to how top-down leadership combined with technology can transform governance and foster progress," he said.
The case study explores PRAGATI's role as a model for other nations aiming to enhance infrastructure and governance through digital platforms. It highlights how the platform’s integration of multiple ministries and departments under one ecosystem has resolved interdepartmental gridlocks and facilitated swift decision-making.
The report is available on the Oxford Saïd Business School website.
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Pune journalist booked on voyeurism charge for filming woman at lodge
Pune (PTI): Police have registered a case of voyeurism against a television journalist in Pune for allegedly filming a woman in an objectionable position without her consent at a lodge in the city, officials said on Saturday.
The FIR was filed against Rohan Kadam under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 77 (voyeurism) and 3(5) (common intention) at the Vishrambaug police station here, while the complaint mentions that he was accompanied by three other journalists, they said.
The incident took place on April 8 when the accused had checked into a room at a lodge in Budhwar Peth, which houses a red light area.
In her complaint, the woman said that while she was wearing her saree after establishing "physical relations with a customer", she realised that an unidentified person was filming her through a net above the partition wall between the rooms.
She opened the door of her room and knocked on the adjacent door, asking the person to come out, the FIR said.
"The woman sought clarification from Kadam, who gave vague answers and refused to show his phone. When the lodge operator, the woman and others questioned him, he claimed that they were a group of four journalists conducting a sting operation," it said.
Police said Kadam was assaulted when he allegedly tried to flee from the spot.
The woman later approached the Vishrambaug police station and lodged a complaint.
"We have registered a case in this regard and further probe is on," a police officer said.
Meanwhile, the Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ) has written a letter to city Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, seeking action against the journalist for the alleged act.
In the letter, the journalists' body said there were murmurs that some journalists and others were trying to ensure that no offence is registered in the matter.
"We do not agree with this and clarify that PUWJ will not come in the way of the probe," the letter stated.
