NITI AAYOG

NITI AAYOG The National Institution for Transforming India In , the Government of India made a shift in its approach towards planning. It introduced a new Commission called the NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) which replaced the Planning Commission. It was formed with the idea of making the entire planning process more decentralized. In such a system the states could be involved in the formulation and implementation of developmental plans in a better manner. It aims at cooperative federalism where the states can play a wider role. It also focuses on need specific plans making the ( entire process inclusive so that all sections of the population could be a part of the developmental process. The NITI Aayog functions as a think tank of the government. It has the function of providing the central government and the state governments with relevant and strategic technical advice relating to policy making. It advices on all issues of national and international importance and analyses on the best practices from our own country and from other nations of the world. The Government issued a resolution of the Union Cabinet on 1st January, by which the Planning Commission was replaced by the NITI Aayog. Structure The Prime Minister is the Chairman of the NITI Aayog. He appoints a Vice- Chairman. There are full time and part time members. It has a Governing Council which consists of the Chief Ministers of all the states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories. The Regional Councils are formed to address specific issues relating to the states or a region. It functions for a specific period of time. The Prime Minister has the power to invite experts, specialists and practitioners on particular domains as special invitees. The part time members are from leading universities and research organizations. Four members of the Union Council of Ministers are also nominated as ex-officio members. It also comprises of a Chief Executive officer(CEO). The plurality and diversity of the Indian state was recognized by the government. The nature of each of the States and Union Territories is different. The needs of the people are different, the geographical condition of each of the regions vary and the economic conditions are different. Some states are more developed than other states. So, the government realized that a uniform plan of development for the entire nation is not a right approach and will not give desired results. Thus,the NITI Aayog was formed so that the needs of each of the regions could be addressed in the right manner.