The 10th meeting of NITI Aayog’s Governing Council was recently conducted in New Delhi, presided over by the Prime Minister. The session was themed “Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047.”
About NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog serves as the principal policy think tank of the Government of India. It was established in January 2015 via a Union Cabinet resolution, succeeding the former Planning Commission. Unlike constitutional or statutory bodies, NITI Aayog was created through an executive decision rather than legislation or a constitutional amendment.
The organization has two primary mandates:
- To supervise the implementation, adoption, and monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) nationwide.
- To foster both competitive and cooperative federalism by increasing the participation of States and Union Territories in India’s development journey.
Structure and Composition
The Prime Minister of India acts as the Chairperson of NITI Aayog. The Governing Council includes:
- The Prime Minister as the Chair,
- Chief Ministers of all States and UTs with legislative assemblies,
- Lieutenant Governors of other Union Territories,
- Up to four Union Ministers appointed as ex-officio members by the Prime Minister,
- The Vice-Chairperson, nominated by the Prime Minister,
- Full-time Members of NITI Aayog,
- Special Invitees comprising experts and specialists, appointed by the Prime Minister.
Regional Councils are set up for defined periods to tackle regional challenges impacting multiple states. These councils are convened by the Prime Minister and include Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors from the respective region.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog is appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed term and holds a rank equivalent to the Secretary to the Government of India.
Key Objectives
- To design credible and inclusive development plans focused on the grassroots level, especially targeting marginalized and vulnerable groups who may be excluded from economic progress.
- To integrate national security concerns into the development of economic policies and strategies.
- To build a knowledge-based, innovation-driven, and entrepreneurial ecosystem that promotes sustainable development over the long term.
To serve as a platform for resolving coordination challenges between sectors and departments, facilitating more effective policy implementation.