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NITI Aayog

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The NITI Aayog (lit. 'Policy Commission'; abbreviation for National Institution for Transforming India) serves as the apex public policy think tank of the Government of India, and the nodal agency tasked with catalyzing economic development, and fostering cooperative federalism and moving away from bargaining federalism through the involvement of State Governments of India in the economic policy-making process using a bottom-up approach. Its initiatives include "15-year road map", "7-year vision, strategy, and action plan", AMRUT, Digital India, Atal Innovation Mission, Medical Education Reform, agriculture reforms (Model Land Leasing Law, Reforms of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act, Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index for ranking states), Indices Measuring States’ Performance in Health, Education and Water Management, Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Skill Development, Task Forces on Agriculture and up of Poverty, and Transforming India Lecture Series.[2]

NITI Aayog
Government Agency overview
Formed1 January 2015; 9 years ago (2015-01-01)
Preceding Government Agency
JurisdictionGovernment of India
HeadquartersNew Delhi
Annual budget₹400.65 crores (US$48+ million) (2020–21)[1] including Ministry of Planning
Government Agency executives
Parent Government AgencyMinistry of Planning
Websitewww.niti.gov.in

It was established in 2015, by the NDA government, to replace the Planning Commission which followed a top-down model. The NITI Aayog council comprises all the state Chief Ministers, along with the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Puducherry, Lieutenant Governors of all UTs, and a vice-chairman nominated by the Prime Minister. In addition, temporary members are selected from leading universities and research institutions. These members include a chief executive officer, four ex-officio members, and three part-time members.

History

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Main article: Planning Commission (India)

On 29 May 2014, the Independent Evaluation Office submitted an assessment report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the recommendation to replace the Planning Commission with a "control commission." On 13 /8/ 2014, the Union Cabinet scrapped the Planning Commission (India), to be replaced with a diluted version of the National Advisory Council (NAC) of India which was established by the UPA government. On 1 January 2015, a Cabinet resolution was passed to replace the Planning Commission with the newly formed NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India). The Union Government of India announced the formation of NITI Aayog on 1 January 2015. The first meeting of NITI Aayog was chaired by Narendra Modi on 8 February 2015.

Finance Minister during that time made the following observation on the necessity of creating 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."[3]

NITI Lectures

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NITI Aayog has started a new initiative on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi called NITI Lectures: Transforming India. The aim of this initiative is to invite globally reputed policy makers, experts, administrators to India to share their knowledge, expertise, experience in policy making and good governance with Indian counterparts. This initiative will be a series of lectures started with first lecture[4] delivered by Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam.[5] He delivered lecture on subject called "India and the Global Economy" at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The Prime Minister spoke about the idea behind this lecture series and stated that his vision for India is rapid transformation, not gradual evolution.[6]

On 31 August 2017, NITI Aayog developed a State Statistics Handbook that consolidates key statistics across sectors for every Indian State/UT. While the State data on crucial indicators is currently fragmented across different sources, this handbook provides a one-stop database of important State statistics.[7]

Initiatives

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NITI Aayog has taken initiative on blockchain usages in e-governance and has conceptualized the tech stack as 'IndiaChain'.[8] IndiaChain is the name given to Niti Aayog's ambitious project to develop a nationwide blockchain network.[9]

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things, blockchain and big data hold potential to take India to new heights

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the 2016 World Economic Forum.[10]

The vision is to link IndiaChain with IndiaStack, the digital infrastructure that forms the backbone of the Aadhaar project.[11] The NITI Aayog initiative on the blockchain system will enforce contracts quicker, prevent fraudulent transactions, and help farmers through the efficient disbursement of subsidies. This project is the first step to a larger system of record keeping and public good disbursement.[12]

NITI Aayog is developing a job portal to connect employers with workers who have returned to their home states due to nationwide lockdown.[13]

The NITI Aayog has developed a Rs 75,000 crore vision for the industrial development of Great Nicobar Islands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The plan entails the development of a transshipment terminal with a greenfield international airport, townships and solar and gas-based power plants, and has faced substantial backlash from indigenous Shompen and Nicobarese communities who fear displacement. The proposed plan is expected to impose significant ecological pressure on the island, its wildlife and its surroundings.[14]

Other initiatives

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Student Entrepreneurship Programme

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The Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP) 1.0 was launched in 2019 while the SEP 2.0 launched in 2020 aimed to convert the grassroot innovations of Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) students into end products. The SEP 2.0 which was launched in 2020 provided the opportunity to the students of ATL to work with Dell volunteers and to get mentor support, end user feedback, manufacturing support and launch support of their products in the market. The scheme would be launched and run by "Atal Innovation Mission" (AIM) under NITI Aayog in association with Dell technologies.[15]

Free tech-driven learning programmes

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In September 2021, NITI Aayog in association with [oyo] launched an initiative to provide free tech-driven learning programmes to engineering aspirants from 112 districts of the country.[16][17]

Behavioural Insights Unit

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Bill Gates with Amitabh Kant (then CEO of Niti Aayog), Pavan Mamidi (Director of CSBC) and others

NITI Aayog launched the Behavioural Insights Unit (NITI-BIU) in partnership with the Centre for Social and Behaviour Change and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in November 2019. [18] It is an independent unit under the office of the CEO of NITI Aayog, aimed at enhancing the design and delivery of public policy in India. NITI-BIU has worked with various Government ministries to leverage behavioural science to improve policy outcomes. It has worked with the Ministry of Jal Shakti to create a Behaviour Change strategy manual for officials, worked with the DMEO, and supported the LiFE mission.[19] It was conceived under the guidance of Amitabh Kant, and the founding team includes Archna Vyas from BMGF, Pavan Mamidi from CSBC, and Pramath Sinha, the founder of Ashoka University. The BIU was inaugurated in the presence of Bill Gates, the founder of BMGF.

The NITI-BIU has launched several initiatives since, in partnership with various state governments:

  1. Navigating the new normal: CSBC, in partnership with Niti Aayog and the Gates Foundation, organised a campaign called ‘Navigating the new normal’ [20][21][22]to promote COVID-19 safe behaviours. The campaign has two parts: The first is a web portal containing resources informed by behavioural science and the use of nudge and social norms theory related to COVID-safe behavioural norms during the ongoing Unlock phase, and the second is a media campaign focused on wearing masks.[23][24]
  2. LiFE Mission (Lifestyle for Environment): At the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP26), the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, announced Mission LiFE, to bring individual behaviours to the forefront of the global climate action narrative. LiFE plans to leverage the strength of social networks to influence social norms surrounding climate. The Mission intends to create and nurture a worldwide network of individuals, Pro-Planet People’ (P3), committed to adopting and promoting environmentally friendly lifestyles. Through the P3 community, the Mission seeks to create an ecosystem that will reinforce and enable ecologically friendly behaviours to be self-sustainable.[25] The project partners with United Nations India, UNEP, UNDP, the World Resources Institute, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Centre for Social and Behaviour Change.
  3. Poshan Gyan: NITI Aayog, in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University launched “Poshan Gyan”, [26][27][28] a national digital repository on health and nutrition. The unique feature of the repository is that it has a crowdsourcing feature that allows anyone to submit communication material for inclusion on the website, followed by a review by a designated committee. Poshan Gyan repository enables the search for communication materials on 14 thematic areas of health and nutrition across diverse languages, media types, target audiences, and sources.[27]
  4. Jal Jeevan Mission: Launched in 2019, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is a national mission-mode program that aims to provide a Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by 2024. The Behavioural Insights Unit focused on developing green field interventions, using behaviours as levers for change. Research efforts from the field have translated into key insights:
    1. Communications guidelines [29]: An active playbook to help users understand various nuances of behaviour change communication and develop innovative communication plans (or strategies) for JJM.
    2. Behavioural diagnostic report [30]: A diagnosis of people's behaviours and motivations within the NJJM ecosystem via extensive field research, stakeholder consultations and literature analysis.
    3. The Compendium of Best Practices report [31] compiles effective behavioural interventions and strategies across various fields for the Jal Jeevan Mission. It serves as a resource for identifying and applying proven practices to influence behaviour positively and achieve desired outcomes in different contexts.[32][33]
  5. Stories of Change: The "Stories of Change" [34] report highlights impactful case studies and success stories related to behavioural change initiatives. It features narratives demonstrating how various interventions and strategies have led to significant improvements in health and well-being.
  6. Behaviour Change Report: The "Behavior Change Report" [18] analyses various behaviour change interventions and their effectiveness. It details successful strategies for influencing behaviours in different contexts, such as public health, environment, and education. The report includes case studies, best practices, and recommendations for designing and implementing behaviour change programs to achieve desired outcomes. This report was in collaboration with the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Offices.

Members

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The NITI Aayog comprises the following: .

Ex-officio chairperson is Prime Minister of India.

  • A Governing Council composed of Chief Ministers of all the States and Union territories with Legislatures and lieutenant governors of Union Territories (except Delhi and Puducherry).[35]
  • Regional Councils composed of Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories in the region to address specific issues and contingencies impacting more than one state or a region.
  • Full-time organizational framework composed of a vice-chairperson, four full-time members, two part-time members (from leading universities, research organizations and other relevant institutions in an ex-officio capacity), four ex-officio members of the Union Council of Ministers, a chief executive officer (with the rank of Secretary to the Government of India) who looks after administration, and a secretariat.
  • Experts and specialists in various fields.[36]

With the Prime Minister as the chairperson, presently NITI Aayog consists[37] of:

References

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  1. ^ "NITI Aayog Budget Allocation Increased by More than 20%". Press Information Bureau. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  2. ^ "NITI Ayog update June 2017.", NIC news, June 2017.
  3. ^ "We will use every provision in the Constitution to push reforms". openthemagazine.com. 8 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates 'NITI Lectures: Transforming India'".
  5. ^ "S'pore's DPM Tharman urges India to quicken economic reforms in inaugural speech for lecture series in New Delhi". The Straits Times. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Niti Lectures".
  7. ^ Jatinder, Kaur. "NITI Aayog Releases State Statistics Handbook". No. Online. ABC Live. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  8. ^ "IndiaChain: Niti Aayog starts on IndiaStack-linked, large-scale Blockchain projects". FactorDaily. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. ^ "IndiaChain: Inside GoI's blockchain network". cio.com. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  10. ^ "PM Modi Says AI, Blockchain Will Change the Nature of Jobs".
  11. ^ "IndiaChain: India's ambitious blockchain project - The Indian Economist | DailyHunt". DailyHunt. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  12. ^ "What is IndiaChain: a blockchain system that could soon be the heart of governance in India?". Business Insider. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  13. ^ "NITI Aayog developing portal to connect 200 million workers with job providers".
  14. ^ EJOLT. "Housing project in Doi Suthep mountains, Thailand | EJAtlas". Environmental Justice Atlas. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  15. ^ "Atal Innovation Mission and Dell Technologies Launch Student Entrepreneurship Programme. The government on 18 Aug 2021 launched Student Entrepreneurship Programme' (SEP 3.0) for the young innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL). • The theme of SEP 3.0 is based on the 'Made in 3D-Seed the Future Entrepreneurs Programme'. • The programme is designed to inspire school students to become future innovators and entrepreneurs. 2.0". Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  16. ^ "NITI Aayog ties up with oyo to provide study material to schools". The Indian Express. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  17. ^ "NITI Aayog, BYJU'S to provide learning material to school students". www.thehindubusinessline.com. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  18. ^ a b "NITI Aayog, DMEO, & Behavioural Insights Unit of India. (2022). Behaviour Change. Pg.96" (PDF). DMEO website. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  19. ^ "PIB Delhi. (2020, June 25). NITI AAYOG launches behaviour change campaign, 'Navigating the New Normal'". DMEO website. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  20. ^ PIB Delhi (25 June 2025). "NITI AAYOG launches behaviour change campaign, 'Navigating the New Normal',and website". Press Information Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  21. ^ ANI (26 June 2020). "Niti Aayog launches behaviour change campaign "navigating the new normal."". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  22. ^ Kaushik, Devanshu (26 June 2020). "NITI Aayog launches campaign "Navigating the New Normal"". Adda247 Current Affairs. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  23. ^ Sharma, Neetu Chandra (25 June 2020). "Niti Aayog launches behaviour change campaign as India unlocks". Mint. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  24. ^ Tripathi, Shailaja (26 June 2020). "NITI Aayog launches behaviour change campaign". Jagran Josh. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Life | NITI Aayog". www.niti.gov.in. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  26. ^ PIB Delhi (13 April 2021). "NITI Aayog Launches'Poshan Gyan', a digital repository on nutrition information". Press Information Bureau. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  27. ^ a b Arora, Sumit (15 April 2021). "NITI Aayog launches 'Poshan Gyan', a digital repository on health, nutrition". Adda 24/7 Current Affairs. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  28. ^ MT-Desk (19 April 2021). "Poshan Gyan: NITI Aayog initiative to combat malnutrition". Medical Tourism. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  29. ^ Jal Jeevan Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Niti Aayog, Behavioural Insights Unit of India, & Centre for Social and Behaviour Change. (2023). Jal Jeevan Mission Behavioural Change Communication Strategy. https://csbc.org.in/upload/Behavioural-change-communication-strategy.pdf
  30. ^ Niti Aayog, Behavioural Insights Unit of India, Ministry of Jal Shakti, & Centre for Social and Behaviour Change. (2022). Jal Jeevan Mission: Behavioural Diagnostic Report. https://csbc.org.in/upload/Jal-Jeevan-Mission-Diagnostic_Report_Final.pdf
  31. ^ Ministry of Jal Shakti, Niti Aayog, Behavioural Insights Unit of India, & Centre for Social and Behaviour Change. (2023). Compendium of Behavioural Best Practices. https://csbc.org.in/upload/Compendium-of-behavioural-best-practices.pdf
  32. ^ PIB Delhi (16 February 2024). "Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat releases Compendium of Behavioural Best Practices and Integrated Communications Strategy for Jal Jeevan Mission". Press Information Bureau. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  33. ^ IED News Desk (17 February 2024). "Ms. Vini Mahajan Inaugurates National Conference on JJM & SBM-G in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. India Education". India Education Diary. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  34. ^ NITI Aayog, Behavioural Insights Unit of India, & Centre for Social and Behaviour Change. (2022). Stories of Change from India’s Aspirational Districts: Use of Behavioural Insights. https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-02/Stories_of_Change_2022_1.pdf
  35. ^ "Governing Council Secretariat and Coordination | NITI Aayog". www.niti.gov.in. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  36. ^ "Resolution" (PDF). NITI Aayog. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  37. ^ "Gazette of India: Re-constitution of NITI Aayog dated June 7, 2018" (PDF).
  38. ^ a b "New Ministers join NITI Aayog". The Hindu. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  39. ^ "Agriculture expert Ramesh Chand appointed as Niti Aayog member | Business Standard News". Business Standard India. Business-standard.com. Press Trust of India. 18 June 2016.
  40. ^ "From Planning Commission To Niti Aayog: Life comes a full circle for Dr Vinod Paul". The Indian Express. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  41. ^ "Niti Aayog extends deadline for research labs by a month", The Economic Times, 15 June 2016
  42. ^ "Governing Council Secretariat and Coordination | NITI Aayog". www.niti.gov.in. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
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