NEW DELHI, November 1: Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath has called for a more business-oriented approach to state governance, suggesting that chief ministers function like chief executives and states compete to attract investment and drive growth.
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2026, Kamath pointed to China’s local governments, which he said compete with one another to spur economic activity. He asked whether Indian states could adopt a similar model, with chief ministers operating “like the CEO of the state”.
Kamath also called for stronger incentives, including allowing states to retain a greater share of the economic gains generated by investments they attract. “I feel like we should learn from whoever has done something well,” he said.
His remarks have renewed discussion on competitive federalism and the role of state governments in promoting investment and economic development. The approach would need to operate within India’s democratic system, where governance and electoral outcomes depend on factors beyond economic performance alone.
