NITI Aayog: Transforming India's Development Agenda

Everyone must adapt to changes and survive as per the needs of the time including nations. India is a diverse and the most populous country in the world and one of the components which lays the foundation for managing such a country is planning. When one looks at the past, the main body responsible for the country’s economic planning was the Planning Commission of India. However, the commission was soon dissolved due to several reasons like rigidity in the model.

This gave birth to the National Institute for Transforming India also known as the NITI Aayog (नीति आयोग) established by the Indian government in 2015. The NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission and eliminated all its shortcomings like the rigid model. It runs on the principle of participation (more minds, more ideas) and focuses on promoting innovation for the prosperity of the nation.

Institution	NITI Aayog
Full form	National Institute for Transforming India
Established in	2015
Replaced who	Planning Commission
Chairman	Prime Minister of India
Objective	To promote innovation, long-term economic growth and development
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Objectives

The NITI Aayog entails several key objectives having one goal and. i.e. to develop India and help in shaping its future. Some of the objectives are:

• Policy formation: NITI Aayog is responsible for creating policies for the country’s development. It develops policies for various sectors such as agriculture, education, health, and overall infrastructure.

• Cooperative federalism: It aims to establish a healthy connection between central and state governments so that both parties can make a decision collectively.

• Innovation: The organisation aims to promote innovation and encourage creative thinking of every member involved in the work of developing a rich country like India.

• Monitoring: NITI Aayog is responsible for regularly monitoring the proper implementation and progress of various policies and schemes.

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Pillars

NITI Aayog’s foundation stands upon certain pillars without which the whole foundation will fall. Those pillars are discussed below in detail:

• Cooperative federalism: The organisation ensures and promotes collaboration between central and state governments so that they can unanimously take part in the decision-making processes. NITI Aayog is a platform that connects central and state governments to address national challenges.

• Competitive federalism: The organisation also encourages healthy competition among state governments to improve the conditions of their respective states and serve as a role model for other state governments.

• Sustainable development: NITI Aayog works on designing long-term plans and policies for the country’s development. It formulates policies by considering changing times, present trends, and technological developments.

• Decentralised planning: It includes decentralised planning wherein all the bodies including central, state, and local bodies participate in the decision-making process.

Achievements

NITI Aayog has achieved many milestones and stepped up on the ladder of development since the day it was established. Some of its key achievements are highlighted below in detail:

• Aspirational Districts Programme: NITI Aayog launched the Aspirational Districts Programme in 2018. It focuses on improving the socio-economic conditions of the underdeveloped parts of India through developing sectors like health, education, agriculture, and others.

• Sustainable Development Goals: The organisation implements and works per the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at national and state levels. An annual SDG report is also published to track the progress and address the feedback if any.

• Atal Innovation Mission: The Atal Innovation Mission was launched under the purview of the NITI Aayog to promote entrepreneurship in India and encourage the development of startups. The mission has developed Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) in schools to promote creative thinking in children. As of now, the scheme has established more than 10,000 ATLs in schools across India.

• Ayushman Bharat- National Health Protection Scheme: NITI Aayog has also played a major role in the working of one of the largest health insurance schemes in India. i.e. the Ayushman Bharat scheme. It provides coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per year.

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Composition

The structure of NITI Aayog is organised in a manner that would help in ensuring representation from all levels. The composition is as follows:

• Chairperson: The Prime Minister of India serves as the chairperson of NITI Aayog.

• Vice-Chairperson: Vice-Chairperson is appointed by the PM of India.

• Full-time members: These are experts from various related fields like economics, social sciences, and others who contribute to policy-making.

• Part-time members: Leaders from research universities, institutions, and other such academic bodies.

• Chief Executive Officer (CEO): The CEO is appointed by the PM of India to oversee the day-to-day functioning of the NITI Aayog.

• Special Invitees: Eminent individuals, academicians, and specialists from various fields are appointed as special invitees.

Verticals Of NITI Aayog (नीति आयोग)

• NITI Aayog is divided into various verticals and each vertical focuses on specific sectors and areas that need attention. Some of the key verticals are:

• Agriculture: Focuses on improving productivity of the agricultural sector and promoting sustainable farming practices.

• Health: Enhancing the quality of healthcare delivery, nutrition, and sanitation.

• Education: Education systems are worked on consistently to provide quality education to students across the world.

• Infrastructure: It includes services like roads, transport, housing, etc, and their improvement.

• Water resources: Works on sustainable water management and conservation.

• Energy: Focuses on renewable energy and sustainability in the power and fuel sectors.

Major Roadmaps

• Strategy for New India @75: This initiative was launched in 2018 on India’s 75th independence and focuses on increasing India’s GDP growth, improving the sectors of India, and making the nation a global manufacturing hub.

• National Energy Policy: This is India’s mission to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy across India by 2040.

• Electric Vehicle: This is India’s mission to achieve a 30% increased usage of electrical vehicles by 2030.

Meetings Held By The NITI Aayog (नीति आयोग)

Meeting Name	Date	Agenda
1st Council Meeting	Feb 8, 2015	Reforms in the agriculture and infrastructure sector
2nd Council Meeting	July 15, 2015	Discussion on Digital India and Swachh Bharat
3rd Council Meeting	April 23, 2017	15 year vision plan and GST implementation
4th Council Meeting	June 17, 2018	Addressing water conservation and reforming the health sector
5th Council Meeting	June 15, 2019	Agriculture reforms and SDG implementation
6th Council Meeting	Feb 20, 2021	Post-COVID recovery strategies
7th Council Meeting	Aug 7, 2022	Clean energy and education reforms

Registration Process

A non-profit entity like an NGO can follow the below-mentioned steps to register with the NITI Aayog:

Step 1: Visit the official website of the NGO Darpan Portal.

Step 2: Register through the portal through your mail ID or phone number.

Step 3: Enter your organisational details like NGO name, registration number, PAN of the organisation, and others.

Step 4: Upload the required documents.

Step 5: Submit your application and note the Unique ID.

Benefits

People and organisations involved in policy implementation and other aspects of government programs and schemes can register with the NITI Aayog which has several benefits such as:

• Government recognition: Organisations that register with NITI Aayog are recognized by the government and then it is easier to partner with govt. agencies for various projects.

• Eligibility for govt. grants: Registered NGOs and organisations for various grants given by the government.

• Access to data and resources: Registered entities can access data, information, and reports generated by the NITI Aayog.

• Tax benefits: Certain govt.-approved projects are exempted from tax and related benefits.

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Government Sources

Official Website: https://www.niti.gov.in/

NGO Darpan Contact Information: https://ngodarpan.gov.in/index.php/home/contact