NITI Aayog stands for National Institution for Transforming India. It is a policy think tank of the Government of India. It was set up on January 1, 2015, as a replacement for the Planning Commission. NITI Aayog serves as a platform for cooperative federalism. It aims to facilitate and guide the transformation of India's development agenda.
Formation of NITI Aayog
Prior to NITI Aayog, the Planning Commission was initiated in March 1950. It was a non-constitutional body. The planning commission was constituted with the functions of framing the five-year plan. It also worked on the distribution of money to states and Ministries. The first five-year plan was framed for the year 1951-56 while the last five-year plan was for the year 2012-17.
The planning commission was later replaced with NITI Aayog. The BJP government in the year 2015 established it with its headquarters in New Delhi. The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) gives advice to the government. This is done for different issues related to health, education, and various policies related to them. It follows a bottom-up approach in framing various policies. The plans formed at the Central level provide an opportunity for the state level to have a say in them.
Composition of NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog is composed of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Lt. Governors & others:
• Chairperson: The Prime Minister of India serves as the NITI Aayog Chairman.
• Vice-Chairperson: The NITI Aayog Vice Chairman is appointed by the Prime Minister.
• Governing Council: The Governing Council consists of all the Chief Ministers of states. It also consists of Lt. Governors from all Union Territories."
• Regional Council: The Regional Council addresses specific regional issues. It is chaired by the Prime Minister or his nominee. It comprises Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors.
• Adhoc Membership: Two members from leading research institutions serve as ex-officio members. This is done on a rotational basis.
• Ex-Officio Membership: Up to four members from the Union Council of Ministers are nominated by the Prime Minister.
• Chief Executive Officer: The Niti Aayog CEO is appointed by the Prime Minister. He holds the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
• Special Invitees: Experts and specialists with domain knowledge are nominated by the Prime Minister.
NITI Aayog's functions include:
• NITI Aayog formulates strategic and long-term policies and programs for various sectors of the economy.
• It monitors the implementation of policies and programs. It also evaluates their effectiveness, making necessary recommendations for course correction.
• NITI Aayog facilitates capacity building and knowledge sharing among states and stakeholders. This promotes best practices and learning.
• It conducts data analysis, research, and evidence-based studies. This helps guide policy formulation and decision-making.
• NITI Aayog promotes international cooperation and partnerships. This helps leverage global expertise, resources, and best practices for India's development.
