The government has appointed Suman K. Bery as the vice-chairman of the NITI Aayog following the resignation of Rajiv Kumar.

What is NITI Aayog?

• The NITI Aayog serves as the apex public policy think tank of the GoI.
• It was established in 2015, by the NDA government, to replace the Planning Commission which followed a top-down model.
• It advises both the centre and states on social and economic issues.
• It is neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body but the outcome of an executive resolution. It was not created by the act of parliament.

Composition of NITI Aayog

• The Prime Minister of India is the chairperson/chairman of the NITI Aayog.
• The PM appoints one Vice-Chairperson, who holds the rank of a cabinet minister.
• It includes the Chief Ministers of all the states and Union territories.
• It has Regional Councils for looking after contingencies in regional areas. It is convened and chaired by the Prime Minister of India and includes concerned chief ministers and Lt. Governors.
• The Prime Minister nominates Personalities with skilled knowledge, who are experts in particular domains as special invitees.
• There are full-time members who hold the rank of ministers.
• There is a maximum of two Part-time members who are invited from leading organisations, universities, and research centres.
• The Prime Minister also appoints one Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who holds the rank of a Secretary.

Aims, Agenda, and Objectives of NITI Aayog

The purpose with which NITI Aayog was formed in place of the Planning Commission was a far-sighted vision. It was important to boost the development of India in the emerging global scenario. The objectives are:

• To generate a platform for national development, sectors and strategies with the collaboration of states and centre.
• To boost the factor of cooperative federalism between the centre and the states. For national development, it is necessary for both wings to work in synergy.
• To develop such mechanisms which work at the ground root level for progressive growth. A nation develops when its regions and states develop.
• To work on long term policies and strategies for long-term development. To set up a system for monitoring progress so that it can be used for analysing and improving methods.
• To provide a platform for resolving inter-departmental issues amicably.
• To make it a platform where the programmes, strategies, and schemes can be monitored on a day to day basis, and it could be understood which sector needs more resources to develop.
• To upgrade technological advancements in such a manner that focus can be made on iNITIatives and programmes.
• To ensure India’s level and ranking at the worldwide level and to make India an actively participating nation.
• To progress from food security towards nutrition and standardised meals and focus on agricultural production.
• To make use of more technology to avoid misadventures and corruption in governance.
• To make the working system more transparent and accountable.

NITI Aayog – Seven Pillars of Effective Governance

• NITI Aayog works on principles like Antyodaya (upliftment of poor), inclusion (to include all sections under one head), people participation, and so on.
• NITI Aayog is a body that follows seven pillars of governance. They are:

1. To look after pro-people agenda so that the aspirations and desires of no one are compromised.
2. To respond and work on the needs of citizens.
3. Make citizens of the nation involve and participate in various streams.
4. To empower women in all fields, be it social, technical, economic, or other.
5. To include all sects and classes under one head. To give special attention to marginalised and minority groups.
6. To provide equal opportunity for the young generation.
7. To make the working of government more accountable and transparent. It will ensure less chance of corruption and malpractices.

Also read:

[Burning Issue] Niti Ayog – A critical Analysis

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