Introduction to NITI Aayog
The government of India has a number of policies and programmes which are brought into action for the welfare of the people. These policies and programmes require a lot of strategic planning which is designed by the National Institution for Transforming India or NITI Aayog, as it is better known.
What is NITI Aayog?
NITI Aayog or the National Institution for Transforming India is a policy think tank of the Indian government which provides inputs regarding the different programmes and policies of the government. NITI Aayog gives relevant advice to the centre and state governments as well as to the Union territories.
This institution was formed in the year 2015 through a resolution of the Union cabinet and is chaired by the Honourable Prime Minister of India and the Chief Ministers of all states and Union territories along with the legislatures and Lt. Governors of other Union Territories.
The NITI Aayog plays an important role in designing the strategies for the long term policies and programmes put forth by the government of India. This institution replaced the planning commission which was instituted in 1950. By taking this step, the government of India aimed at providing a common platform for all the states to get together and act in national interest while also serving the needs of the people in a much better way. NITI Aayog has been a revolutionary institution which fosters cooperative federalism.
Objectives of NITI Aayog
The NITI Aayog works with the following objective:
- To foster cooperative federalism by providing a common platform to all states to work together towards serving the nation and the people. NITI Aayog recognises that a strong nation is made by strong states.
- To focus on areas of the society which are not essentially benefitted with the economic growth and progress.
- To prioritise national development by designing strategies for policies and programmes formed for the betterment of the nation and its people.
- To develop progressive plans at the village level and communicate them to the higher government level.
- To provide a common platform for the resolution of inter-sectoral and interdepartmental issues.
- To provide advice to the centre, states and Union territories and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international think tanks.
- To monitor and evaluate the implementation of government policies and programmes.
- To focus on technology upgradation and capacity building for the implementation of new policies.
- To focus on the national development agenda.
The 7 Pillars of NITI Aayog
The NITI Aayog operates on 7 principles of effective governance, including:
- Pro-people orientation, satisfying both societal and individual aspirations
- Pro-activity in meeting citizens' needs
- Citizen participation
- Empowerment, especially for women
- Inclusion of all individuals regardless of caste, religion, or gender
- Provision of equal opportunities, particularly for the youth
- Transparency, making the government accountable and accessible.
Achievements of NITI Aayog
The 2019-20 report on Niti Aayog highlights its accomplishments, including:
Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) program in partnership with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This program aims to assess and reform food and agriculture policies, with the first phase running from 23rd September to 31st December 2019. During this phase, the National Agriculture Price Policy and National Food Security Policy for selected marketing committees and districts were reported. The second phase is planned from 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2021.
The promotion of Zero Budget Natural Farming by the Niti Aayog governing council and the program is presented as the "Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati" under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
The conception of the Village Storage Scheme, and the proposal of the Dhaanya Lakshmi Village Storage Scheme in the Union Budget 2021, are yet to be implemented.
NITI Aayog Composition
The structure of NITI Aayog will include:
- Prime Minister of India serving as the Chairperson
- Governing Council comprised Chief Ministers of all states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories in India.
- Regional Councils formed to address specific issues affecting more than one state, summoned by the Prime Minister, and consisting of the Chief Ministers of states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories. The Chairperson of the NITI Aayog or their nominee will chair the Regional Councils
- Eminent experts and specialists with relevant domain knowledge
- A full-time organizational framework, with the Prime Minister as the Chairperson
- Vice-Chairperson appointed by the Prime Minister
- Full-time and part-time members, with a maximum of 2 part-time members from leading universities, research organizations, and innovative organizations on a rotational basis serving in an ex-officio capacity
- Ex Officio members with a maximum of 4 members of the Council of Ministers, nominated by the Prime Minister
- CEO, appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure, holding the rank of Secretary to the Government of India
