NITI Aayog replaces Planning Commission; PM Narendra Modi to head new body
New Delhi, Jan 1: The 65-year-old Planning Commission was on day replaced by a new body, NITI Aayog, that will be headed by the Prime Minister, while all chief ministers will be on its governing council to evolve national development priorities with the involvement of states.
Unlike its predecessor, NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), will have all Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors on its Governing Council in the spirit of cooperative federalism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on the new body.
"Having served as a CM (Chief Minister) in the past, I am very much aware of the importance of actively consulting the states. NITI Aayog does precisely that," tweeted Modi, who had in his Independence Day speech mooted the idea of replacing the Commission with a new and more relevant body.
"Through the NITI Aayog we wish to ensure that every individual can enjoy the fruits of development& aspire to lead a better life (inclusive growth)," he said.
The body will have a Vice Chairperson and CEO in addition to five full-time members and two part-time members, while four union ministers would serve as ex-officio members.
Noted economist Arvind Panagariya is tipped to be first Vice-Chairman of the Niti Aayog.
Modi in his tweet said, "A pro-people, pro-active & participative development agenda stressing on empowerment & equality is the guiding principle behind NITI Aayog. Through NITI Aayog, we bid farewell to a 'one size fits all' approach towards development. The body celebrates India's diversity & plurality."
The NITI Aayog, he hoped, will emerge as an active and important institution that will play a pivotal role in India's development journey in the years to come. It will provide key inputs on various policy matters.
Delighted
to
introduce
NITI
(National
Institution
for
Transforming
India)
Aayog.
It
will
provide
key
inputs
on
various
policy
matters.
—
Narendra
Modi
(@narendramodi)
January
1,
2015
NITI
Aayog
will
emerge
as
an
active
&important
institution
that
will
play
a
pivotal
role
in
India's
development
journey
in
the
years
to
come
—
Narendra
Modi
(@narendramodi)
January
1,
2015
NITI
Aayog
has
been
formed
after
a
wide
range
of
consultation
with
the
various
stakeholders
including
the
Chief
Ministers.
—
Narendra
Modi
(@narendramodi)
January
1,
2015
NITI
Aayog
has
been
formed
after
a
wide
range
of
consultation
with
the
various
stakeholders
including
the
Chief
Ministers.
—
Narendra
Modi
(@narendramodi)
January
1,
2015
A
landmark
change
is
the
inclusion
of
all
State
CMs
&
LGs
of
UTs
in
the
NITI
Aayog.
This
will
foster
a
spirit
of
cooperative
federalism.
—
Narendra
Modi
(@narendramodi)
January
1,
2015
Having
served
as
a
CM
in
the
past,
I
am
very
much
aware
of
the
importance
of
actively
consulting
the
states.
NITI
Aayog
does
precisely
that.
—
Narendra
Modi
(@narendramodi)
January
1,
2015
Through
NITI
Aayog,
we
bid
farewell
to
a
'one
size
fits
all'
approach
towards
development.
The
body
celebrates
India's
diversity
&
plurality
—
Narendra
Modi
(@narendramodi)
January
1,
2015
A
pro-people,
pro-active
&
participative
development
agenda
stressing
on
empowerment
&
equality
is
the
guiding
principle
behind
NITI
Aayog.
—
Narendra
Modi
(@narendramodi)
January
1,
2015
You
can
find
more
details
of
the
NITI
Aayog
including
its
composition
&
role
in
this
link.
http://t.co/A6Oo9cxTCy
—
Narendra
Modi
(@narendramodi)
January
1,
2015
PTI