National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog): Download Notes PDF

What is NITI Aayog?

Niti is a Sanskrit word that means moral guidance and making policies. Keeping this essence in mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 1st, 2015 introduced the NITI Aayog, which stands for National Institution for Transforming India. NITI Aayog is considered to be a booster for the economic growth of the country, which will further help India evolve as a strong economy on a global platform.

• Chairman of NITI Aayog – Narendra Modi
• Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog – Dr. Rajiv Kumar (September 2017 – present) is the current Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog.

Composition of NITI Aayog

The composition of NITI Aayog is as follows:

• The Chairperson, who is also the Prime Minister of India

• Chief Ministers of all states and union territories, as well as Lieutenant Governors of union territories.
• Regional Councils: These are constituted to address the contingencies which impact more than one state. The members of regional councils have a fixed tenure and these are convened by the PM. The Regional Council is composed of chief ministers of states and lieutenant governors of union territories.

• Special Invitees: special invitees are nominated by the Prime Minister and are expert practitioners and specialists in a particular domain.

• Full-term organizational framework: It consists of the vice-chairpersons, the members, part-time members, ex-officio members, the chief executive officer, and the secretariat.

What are the 7 pillars of NITI Aayog?

The 7 pillars of NITI Aayog are based on good governance and they form the theme of the think tank.

1. Pro-people
2. Pro-activity
3. Participation
4. Empowering
5. Inclusion of all
6. Equality
7. Transparency

Objectives of NITI Aayog

• The first objective of NITI Aayog is to involve and enhance a shared vision to keep national development as a priority along with the active participation of all states.
• To prepare and formulate the plans at the grassroots level in the villages and work on them seriously and progressively at the higher levels of government.
• It also aims to keep a check on the sections of society that are falling behind or are not benefitting adequately financially.
• NITI Aayog prepares the plans, policies, and frameworks for long-term progress and monitors the efficiency of programs.
• NITI Aayog is an overall watchdog that also focuses on upgrading technology and implementing it in the programs and initiatives of the government of India.
• NITI Aayog works on program implementation for the government of India, as well as identifying basic needs and resources to improve people's livelihoods.

Functions of NITI Aayog

The concept of NITI Aayog was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 1st of January 2015.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi abolished the 65-year-old planning commission on August 13th, 2014, and replaced it with the NITI Aayog.
• The important point to be noted here is that NITI Aayog was established in the same manner as the Planning Commission was created, i.e., by executive resolution. Therefore, NITI Aayog is neither a statutory body nor a constitutional body; it is an executive body.
• NITI Aayog is a policy think tank of the Indian government and provides policy-related and directional input to the government of India. Another important point is that NITI Aayog, apart from assisting the government of India, also helps the states and centers with technical advice.
• As compared to the previous planning commission approaches, NITI Aayog provides diversified points of view collaboratively rather than being confrontationist.

Hubs unders NITI Aayog

There are two hubs under NITI Aayog

• Team India Hub - acts as a bridge between States and Centre therefore prompting cooperative federalism.
• Knowledge and Innovation Hub- assembles the think-tank functionality of NITI Aayog.

Reports published by NITI Aayog

The NITI Aayog also planned to release three documents —

• 3-year action agenda
• 7-year medium-term strategy paper
• 15-year vision document.

Indexes released by NITI Aayog

Apart from the Reports published by NITI Aayog, there are several indices and index released by NITI Aayog

• Composite Water Management Index
• District Hospital Index
• Export Preparedness Index
• Global Innovation Index
• India Innovation Index
• Multidimensional Poverty Index
• School Education Quality Index
• SDG India Index
• State Energy Index
• State Health Index

NITI Aayog Three year Action Plan

• This 3-year Action Plan agenda is an integral part of the Aayog that leads to the visual and strategic document.
• The NITI Aayog three-year action plan is a document for the duration of 2017 to 2020.
• This document explains the changes in the policies and programs for the actions between 2017 and 2020.
• This 3-year Action Plan offers proposals that suggest policy changes in a short period of time.

Achievements of NITI Aayog

The Government of India’s premier policy think tank, NITI Aayog provides directional, policy and relevant technical advice to the Centre, States, and Union Territories. The achievements of the NITI Aayog are:

• NITI Aayog has played a significant role in strengthening the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. It held extensive peer reviews of health benefits packages for PMJAY.
• NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and with the technical assistance of the World Bank has been spearheading the World Health Outcome Index.
• The Aspirational District Program is fostering the transformation in the health and nutrition sectors with the involvement of district officers under the leadership of District Collectors.
• NITI Aayog examined and made recommendations to the draft National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) Bill, 2018, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2018, and National Commission for Yoga & Naturopathy Bill, 2018
• Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme in India.
• Village Storage Scheme and Dhaanya Lakshmi Village Storage Scheme are the brainchildren of NITI Aayog.
• Natural farming is being promoted as the ‘Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati’ programme under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
• NITI Aayog is following an extremely participative approach in preparing the Strategy for New India by 2022.

NITI Aayog UPSC

NITI Aayog is a very important organization in the Indian administration, as it plays a vital role in the development of the country and maintaining its progress. To prepare NITI Aayog UPSC Topic, applicants can go through the current affairs and Polity Books for UPSC

You can download previous year's UPSC question papers to prepare for polity and NITI Aayog UPSC questions. Candidates appearing for the upcoming IAS exam must download the latest UPSC Syllabus to ensure all the important topics are covered.

➩ Download NITI Aayog Notes for UPSC Exam

NITI Aayog UPSC Question

Prelims Question-2013. Consider the following statements

1. The National Development Council is the organ of the planning commission.
2. Economic and social planning is kept in the concurrent list in the constitution of India.
3. The constitution of India prescribes that Panchayat should be assigned the task of preparation of plans for economic development and Social Justice.

Which of the statements given above is correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1,2 and 3

Answer. Option 2

Prelims Question-2014 Which of the following are associated with 'Planning in India'?

1. The finance commission
2. The National Development Council
3. The Union Ministry of Rural Development
4. The Union Ministry of Urban Development
5. The parliament

Select the correct answer using the code given below-

1. 1 2 and 5 only
2. 1, 3, and 4 only
3. 2 and 5 only
4. 1,2,3,4, and 5

Answer. Option 3

Difference Between NITI Aayog & Planning Commission

As the planning commission is now replaced by NITI Aayog, here are a few highlighted differences between the two.