Governors' conference to discuss security, development

New Delhi: Governors from 23 states and Lt. governors of two union territories will discuss security, job creation and other issues of national importance with the union cabinet during a two-day conference here starting on Tuesday.

President Pranab Mukherjee will preside over the conference to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, an official statement said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a number of union ministers will participate. 

The issues to be discussed at the conference include security (internal and external) with special focus on terrorism and insurgency activities, creating jobs for the youth with special focus on skill development for school dropouts, and implementation of government schemes like 'Swachh Bharat', 'Housing for All' by 2022 and 'Smart Cities'. 

Other issues on the agenda are improving quality of higher education, giving impetus to the 'Make in India' programme, and development of the north-eastern region of the country.

Those scheduled to attend the conference include Vice President Hamid Ansari, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, and HRD Minister Smriti Irani, besides a number of union ministers of state and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. 

This is the 47th such conference to be held in Rashtrapati Bhavan.