NITI Aayog has completed 10 years of its establishment. The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) was established on 1 January 2015 through a Union Cabinet resolution, replacing the earlier Planning Commission.
NITI Aayog
- Establishment: NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is a government think tank established in 2015.
- Structure: NITI Aayog is chaired by the Prime Minister, while the Vice Chairman and CEO lead the executive functions.
Governing Council
- Prime Minister of India
- Chief Ministers of States and Union Territories
- Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories (except Delhi and Puducherry)
Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog
- Full-time Members of NITI Aayog
Objectives of NITI Aayog
- Promoting inclusive growth: Formulating and implementing strategies for inclusive growth, involving the central and state governments.
- Promoting cooperative federalism: Formulating strategies to engage key stakeholders for cooperative governance.
- Focus on vulnerable sections: Special focus on vulnerable sections of society who are not able to fully benefit from economic progress.
- Ensuring credibility of planning: Ensuring credible planning at the village level and gradually scaling it up to higher government levels.
- Formulating long-term policies: Formulating strategic and long-term policy frameworks, monitoring progress, and implementing mid-way corrections as needed.
- Focus on innovation and technology: Emphasis on knowledge, innovation, entrepreneurship support systems, and technology upgradation.
- Establishment of Resource Centre: Establishment of a research repository on effective governance and sustainable development.
Significance of NITI Aayog
- Cooperative federalism: NITI Aayog enhances coordination between the central and state governments, helping states to address local problems.
- Competitive federalism: NITI Aayog motivates states to improve through transparent rankings, and promotes local empowerment.
- Strategic policymaking: NITI Aayog formulates long-term policies, incorporating views from state governments and experts.
- SDG monitoring: It monitors the implementation of SDGs in India, and aligns government schemes with global goals.
- Promoting innovation: NITI Aayog promotes an innovation-supporting ecosystem and supports startups.
- Capacity building: Provides training and technical support to state governments to enable them to effectively implement policies.
- Inclusive growth: It promotes policies for marginalized communities, thereby ensuring social equity.
- Transparency: NITI Aayog makes government operations transparent and increases public confidence.
- Inter-cadre coordination: Facilitates policy implementation while addressing problems across sectors.
NITI Aayog Vision Plans for India
- 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development: Promote poverty eradication, education, health, clean energy and gender equality.
15-year vision (2020-2035):
- Focus on economic growth, social equity and environmental sustainability.
- Data and innovation: Improve growth and governance through digitalization, innovation and evidence-based policymaking.