Structure and Function of NITI Ayog. (UPSC CSE Mains 2015- Political Science and International Relations, Paper 1)
Planning has been in Indian psyche as our leaders came under influence of the socialist clime of erstwhile USSR. Planning commission served as the planning vehicle for close to six decades with a focus on control and command approach. Planning Commission was replaced by a new institution – NITI Aayog on January 1, 2015 with emphasis on ‘Bottom –Up’ approach to envisage the vision of Maximum Governance, Minimum Government, echoing the spirit of ‘Cooperative Federalism’.
Composition of NITI Aayog
- Chairperson:Prime Minister
- Vice-Chairperson:To be appointed by Prime-Minister
- Governing Council:Chief Ministers of all states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories.
- Regional Council:To address specific regional issues, Comprising Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors Chaired by Prime Minister or his nominee.
- Adhoc Membership: 2 member in ex-officio capacity from leading Research institutions on rotational basis.
- Ex-Officio membership:Maximum four from Union council of ministers to be nominated by Prime minister.
- Chief Executive Officer:Appointed by Prime-minister for a fixed tenure, in rank of Secretary to Government of India.
- Special Invitees:Experts, Specialists with domain knowledge nominated by Prime-minister.
Importance of NITI Aayog
- The 65 year-old Planning Commission had become a redundant organization. It was relevant in a command economy structure, but not any longer.
- India is a diversified country and its states are in various phases of economic development along with their own strengths and weaknesses.
- In this context, a ‘one size fits all’ approach to economic planning is obsolete. It cannot make India competitive in today’s global economy.
Functions of niti aayog
The concept of NITI Aayog was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1st January 2015. The major functions of NITI Aayog are as follows:
- Act as a think tank for the Government to provide strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of the key elements of policy.
- Develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans and policy frameworks at the village level and at higher levels of the Government.
- Develop itself as a state-of-the-art resources centre, with the necessary resources and skills that will enable it to provide strategic policy vision for the Government and deal with contingent issues.
- Monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes.
- Focus on technology degradation and capacity building.
- Public various socio-economic indices.
Looking Forward
- Decentralization of planning but within a five-year plan framework.
- Bureaucratic inertia need to be shaken, specializing it and fixing the accountability on basis of performance.
- NITI Aayog could emerge as an agent of change over time and contribute to the government’s agenda of improving governance and implementing innovative measures for better delivery of public services.
- NITI Aayog continues to be representative of efficient, transparent, innovative and accountable governance system in country with distinguished work ethics.
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