NITI Aayog PDF

CHAPTER 56 NITI Aayog ESTABLISHMENT The NITI Aayog is the premier policy Think Tank' of the Govern ment of India, On the l 3th of August,...

CHAPTER 56 NITI Aayog ESTABLISHMENT The NITI Aayog is the premier policy Think Tank' of the Govern ment of India, On the l 3th of August, 2014, the Modi Govern providing both directional and policy inputs. ment scrapped the 6- year-old Planning Commis While designing strategic and long-term poli sion and announced that it would be replaced Cies and programmes for the Government of b a new body. AcCordingly, on January 1, 2015, India, NITIAayog also provides relevant tech the NITI Aavog (National Institution for Trans nical advice to the Centre and States. forming India) was established as the successor The centre-to-state one-way flow of policy, that to the planning commission. was the hallmark of the Planning Commission However, it must be noted here that the era, is now sought to be replaced by a genuine NITI Aavog, like that of the Planning Com and continuing partnership of states, mission, was also created by an executive In a paradigmaticshift from the command resolution' of the Government of India (i.e., control approach of the past, NIT Aayog Union Cabinet). Hence, it is also neither a accommodates diverse points of view in a constitutional body nor a statutory body. collaborative, rather than confrontationist, In other words, Gt is a non-constitutional or setting. In the spirit of federalism, NITI's own extra-constitutional body (i.e., not created by policy thinking too is shaped by a bottom-up' the Constitution)_and a non-statutory body approach rather than a 'top-down' model. (not created by an Act of the Parliament). RATIONALE No. Resolution of the Cabinet Secretariat vide While explaining the reason for replacing the 511/2/1/2015-Cab., dated the lst of January, 2015, Planning Commission with the NITI Aavog, Extraordinary, published in the Gazette of India, the Union Government made the following 2015. Par I, Section 1, dated the 7th of January,  466 Indion Polity ohscrvation. india has undergone a paradigm decades-politically, shift over the pasM sitechnologically as wcll onomicallv, socially, Government of as demographically. The role in national dovelopment has scen a parallel lution. hecping with these changing times, to set up the Govemment of India has decidedTransform NITIAavng (National Institution for Planning ing India), in place of the erstwhile Commission, as a means to bctter serve the necds andaspirations of the people of India."" The new institution will be a catalyst to the developmental process; nurturing an overall COMPOSITION enabling environment, through a holistic The composition of the approach to development going beyond the follows: NITI Aayog is as limited sphere of the Public Sector and Gov (a) Chairperson: The Prime Minister of Indi ernment of India. This will be built on the foundations of: (b) Governing Council: It comprises the 1. An empowered role of States as equal Chief Ministers of all the States, Chief partners in national development; oper Ministers of Union Territories with ationalising the principle of Cooperative Legislatures (i.e., Delhi, Puducherry and Federalism. Jammu and Kashmir) and Lt. Governors 2. A knowledge hub of internal as well as of other Union Territories. external resources; serving as a reposi (c) Regional Councils: These are formed to tory of good governance best practices, address specific issues and contingen and a Think Tank offering domain cies impacting more than one state or knowledge as well as strategic expertise region. These are formed for a specified to all levels of government. tenure. These are convened by the Prime 3. A collaborative platform facilitating imple Minister and comprises of the Chief mentation; by monitoring progress, Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of plugging gaps and bringing together the Union Territories in the region. These various ministries at the Centre and in are chaired by the Chairperson of the States, in the joint pursuit of developmen NITIAayog or his/her nominee. tal goals. (d) Special Invitees: Experts, specialists and practitioners with relevant domain knowledge as special invitees nominated by the Prime Minister. (e) Full-time Organisational Framework: It comprises, in addition to the Prime Minister as the Chairperson: () Vice-Chairperson: He/she is ap pointed by the Prime Minister. He She enjoys the rank of a Cabinet Minister. Government of India document on NITI Aayog (i) Full-time Members: They enjoy the entitled as "From Planning to India's NITI-Thansforming 'Tbid. Development Agendu",dated February 8,2015. rank of a Minister of State. uWe will use every provision in the Constitutionto push reforms", OPEN Magazine, Januarv 9, 2015.  Parttime Members: Maximum of 2, improvements, including necessary mid fom leading universities, rescarch (M) COurse CorrCctions, onganisations and other relevant 7. To provide advice and encourage part institutions in an exofficio capacity. nerships between key stakeholders and Parttime membes would be national and international like-minded Otation. think tanks, as well as educational and (i)Ex-Officio Members: Maximum of policy rescarch iinstitutions. members of the Union Council 8. To create a knowledge, innovation and of Ministers to be nominated by entrepreneurial support system through 3 the Prime Minister. a collaborative community of national Chief Executive Officer: He/she is and international experts, practitioners appointed by the Prime Minister and other partners. for a fixed tenure, in the rank of 9. To offer a platform for the resolution of Secretary to the Government of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental India. issues in order to accelerate the imple (ri) Secretariat: As deemed necessary. mentation of the development agenda. 10. To maintain a State-of-the-Art Resource OBJECTIVES Centre, be a repository of research on good governance and best practices in The objectives of the NITI Aayog are men- sustainable and equitable development cioned below: as well as help their dissemination to L. To evolve a shared vision of national stake-holders. development priorities, sectors and 11. To actively monitor and evaluate the strategies with the active involvement implementation of programmes and ini of States. tiatives, including the identification of the needed resources so as to strengthen 2. To foster cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mech the probability of success and scope of anisms with the States on a continuous delivery. basis, recognising that strong States 12. To focus on technology upgradation and make a strong nation. capacity building for the implementa 3. To develop mechanisms to formulate tion of programmes and initiatives. credible plans at the village level and 13. To undertake other activities as may be aggregate these progressively at higher necessary in order to further the execu levels of government. tion of the national development agenda, 4. To ensure, on areas that are specifi and the objectives mentioned above. cally referred to it, that the interests of national security are incorporated in economicstrategy and policy. FUNCTIONS 5. To pay special attention to the sections The NITI Aayog's entire gamut of activities is of our society that may be at risk of not divided into two main hubs: Team India and benefitting adequately from economic Knowledge and Innovation. The two hubs are at progres5. the core of NITI Aayog's efficient 6. To design strategic and long-term pol The Team India Hub carries out functioning. the man 1cy and programnme frameworks and date of fostering cooperative federalism and initiatíves, and monitor their prog designing policy and programme frameworks. ress and their efficacy. The lessons It provides requisite learnt through monitoring and feedback in NITI Aayog's coordination and support will be used for making innovative engagement with States, The Knowledge and Innovation Hub maintains a  Indion Polity 468 17. Public-Private Partnershin centre, a repository 18. Rural Development state-oftheart resource governnce and best good 19. Science and Technology of rescarch on encourages 20. Social Justice and practices, provides advice and key stakeholders, includ Voluntary Action Cell Empowerment, and partnerships with think tanks and ing colleges, universities, non-governmental organizations and aboad, at home 21. Social Sector-I (Skill Labour and Employ ment, Development) DevclandopmentUrban, performed by the NITI 22. Social Sector-II (Health and The Aavog various can be functions divided into four main programme framework heads: and Women and Child Coordination Nutrition, Development) 1. Policy and 23. State Finances and Co-operative and competitive federalism 24. Sustainable Development Goals 2. 3. Monitoring and evaluation Innovation 25. Water and Land Resources 4. Thìnk-tank, Knowledge and Hub GUIDING PRINCIPLES functionally divided The NITI Aayog is are respon intovarious verticals/cells, which In carrying out the above functions, the NITI into sectoral sible for examining and looking development Aayog is guided by the following principles?. issuesand priorities for national 1. Antyodaya: Prioritise service and uplit and economic growth. Aayog of the poor, marginalised and downtrod. The different verticals/cells of NITI den, as enunciated in Pandit Deendaval provide the requisite co-ordination and sup Upadhyay's idea of 'Antyodaya'. port framework for NITI Aayog to carry out 2. Inclusion: Empower vulnerable and mar. its mandate. The list of verticals/cells is as ginalised sections, redressing identity. follows" based inequalities of all kinds-gender. 1. Administration and Support Units region, religion, caste or class. 2. Agriculture and Al]lied Sectors 3. Village: Integrate our villages into the 3. Aspirational Districts Programme Cell development process, to draw on the 4. Communication and Social Media Cell vitality and energy of the bedrock of our 5. Data Management and Analysis, and ethos, culture and sustenance. Frontier Technologies 4. Demographicdividend: Harness our greatest 6. Economics and Finance Cell asset, the people of India; by focussing on 7. Education 8. Governance and Research their development, through education and 9. Governing Council Secretariat and skilling,and their empowerment, through Coordination productive livelihood opportunities. 10. Industry-I 5. People's Participation: Transform the 11. Industry-II developmental process into a people 12. Infrastructure-Connectivity driven one, making an awakened and 13. Infrastructure-Energy participative citizenry-the driver of 14. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises good governance. 15. Natural Resources and Environment, and 6. Governance: Nurture an open, transparent, IslandDevelopment accountable, pro-active and purposeful 16. Project Appraisal and Management style of governance, transitioning focus Division from Outlay to Output to Outcome. SThis information has been obtained from the official website of the NITIAayog, Government of India. 'Government of India document on NITI Aayog "Annual Report 2022-23, NITI Aayog, Government entitled as "Fromn Planning to NITI Transformng of india,p. 7. India's Development Agenda", dated February 8, 2015.  ustanabilitu: Maintain sustainability at devclon ihe core of our planning and mental process, building on our ancient tradition tor the environment. Thercfore, the NITI Aayog is bascd the following seven pillars of effective goemancc: Popople that fulfils the aspira- (i) tions ofthe socicty as well as individuals. () Poactivein anticipating and responding to citizen needs. (ii) Participative, involvement of citizens. by (i) Empowering women in all aspects. ()) Inclusion of all groups with special atten tothe SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities. (si) Equality of opportunity for the youth. (vii) Transparency through the use of tech nology to make government visible and responsive. Through its commitment to a cooperative federalis1m, promotion of citizen engagement, egalitarian access to opportunity, participative andadaptive governance and increasing use of technology, the NITI Aayog seeks to provide a critical directional and strategic input into the development process. This, along with being the incubator of ideas for development, is the core mission of NITI Aayog. COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM