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NITI AayogNITI Aayog

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) serves as the apex public policy think tank of the Government of India, replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission. It embodies the principle of cooperative federalism by fostering the active involvement of State Govern...NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) serves as the apex public policy think tank of the Government of India, replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission. It embodies the principle of cooperative federalism by fostering the active involvement of State Govern...

Mediumमध्यम 60 min totalकुल 60 मिनट

Chronological Evolution of Niti Aayog

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NITI Aayog Core Study Notes

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) serves as the apex public policy think tank of the Government of India, replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission. It embodies the principle of cooperative federalism by fostering the active involvement of State Governments in the economic policy-making process, making it a high-yield topic for Allahabad High Court RO/ARO and UPPSC examinations.

Constitutional Status, Nature, and Objectives

Understanding the legal standing, foundational objectives, and guiding philosophy of NITI Aayog.

  • Non-Constitutional and Extra-Constitutional Body: NITI Aayog is neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body; it is a non-statutory, extra-constitutional advisory body established by an executive resolution.
  • Think Tank Function: It acts as the premier governmental 'Think Tank', providing both directional and policy inputs across economic, social, and developmental spectra.
  • Cooperative Federalism: Promotes 'Cooperative Federalism' through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong nation.
  • Bottom-Up Approach: Unlike the erstwhile Planning Commission which followed a top-down approach, NITI Aayog formulates plans from village level to the national level (bottom-up approach).
Feature Planning Commission NITI Aayog
Status Extra-constitutional, allocated funds Extra-constitutional, advisory think-tank
Role of States Limited to National Development Council Active participants via Governing Council
Financial Power Had powers to allocate funds to states No financial allocation powers (Domain of Finance Ministry)
Planning Approach Top-Down Approach Bottom-Up Approach

Composition and Organizational Structure

Detailed breakdown of the leadership, governing body, and specialized wings of NITI Aayog.

  • Chairperson: The Prime Minister of India serves as the Chairperson of NITI Aayog ex-officio.
  • Governing Council: Comprises all Chief Ministers of States and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, ensuring federal participation.
  • Regional Councils: Formed for specific issues and contingencies impacting more than one state or region, convened by the Prime Minister and comprising CMs and LGs.
  • Vice-Chairperson and CEO: The Vice-Chairperson is appointed by the Union Government, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
  • Special Invitees: Experts, specialists, and practitioners with domain knowledge nominated by the Prime Minister.

Major Indices and Reports Published by NITI Aayog

Key performance measurement frameworks and indices utilized for competitive federalism among Indian states.

  • SDG India Index: Evaluates progress of States and UTs on social, economic, and environmental parameters aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Export Preparedness Index (EPI): Examines export readiness of Indian states across four pillars: Policy, Business Ecosystem, Export Ecosystem, and Export Performance.
  • State Health Index: Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and World Bank, measuring annual incremental performance in health outcomes across states.
  • Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): Measures deprivations across health, education, and standard of living, providing national and sub-national poverty estimates based on NFHS data.
  • India Innovation Index: Ranks states and UTs based on their innovation capabilities and ecosystem performance to foster competitive and cooperative federalism.

Practice Zone: 50 Questions

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