NITI Aayog

Why in News?

NITI Aayog recommended cutting core grant support for State Science and Technology Councils, shifting to project-based funding to boost accountability, citing concerns over imbalanced contributions and limited scientific output from state-administered research institutions.

Description:

• Full form: National Institution for Transforming India.
• Replaced Planning Commission on 1st January 2015.
• Emphasises Bottom–Up approach, “Maximum Governance, Minimum Government”.
• Reflects spirit of Cooperative Federalism.
• Planning Commission followed Top–Down, command-and-control model inspired by USSR.

Composition of NITI Aayog:

• Chairperson: Prime Minister.
• Vice-Chairperson: Appointed by PM.
• Governing Council: Chief Ministers of all States + Lt. Governors of UTs.
• Regional Councils: For specific regional issues, chaired by PM or his nominee.
• Ex-Officio Members: Up to 4 Union Ministers nominated by PM.
• Ad-hoc Members: 2 members from leading research institutions on rotational basis.
• CEO: Appointed by PM, in rank of Secretary to GoI.
• Special Invitees: Experts nominated by PM.

NITI Aayog Hubs:

• Team India Hub: Interface between States and Centre.
• Knowledge and Innovation Hub: Think-tank, policy research.
• Documents planned:
  • 3-Year Action Agenda
  • 7-Year Strategy Paper
  • 15-Year Vision Document

Key Objectives:

• Foster cooperative federalism through continuous support to States.
• Develop village-level planning, aggregating upward.
• Incorporate national security interests in economic strategy.
• Focus on vulnerable sections of society.
• Promote stakeholder partnerships, with think tanks, research bodies.
• Build knowledge, innovation, entrepreneurial ecosystems.
• Resolve inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues.
• Maintain state-of-the-art Resource Centre and disseminate best practices.

Importance of NITI Aayog:

• Planning Commission was obsolete in market-driven economy.
• India’s states have diverse development stages, making one-size-fits-all planning outdated.
• Aims for competitive, inclusive growth tailored to state needs.

Major Initiatives of NITI Aayog:

• SDG India Index
• Composite Water Management Index
• Atal Innovation Mission
• SATH Project
• Aspirational District Programme
• School Education Quality Index
• District Hospital Index
• Health Index
• Agriculture Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index
• India Innovation Index
• Women Transforming India Awards
• Good Governance Index
• Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)
• Strategy for New India @75
• Methanol Economy Programme
• e-AMRIT Portal (EV awareness, UK–India Joint Roadmap 2030)

NITI Aayog vs. Planning Commission:

Concerns/Challenges:

• Needs to prioritise among many objectives.
• Must build trust better than Planning Commission.
• Requires budgetary freedom, shifting from plan/non-plan to capital/revenue expenditure focus.
• Must overcome bureaucratic inertia and fix accountability.

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