Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government began the New Year replacing the 65-year- old Planning Commission with a new institution named NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, where the prime minister would continue as chairperson of the revamped body and have state chief ministers as part of the governing council.
"The institution will serve as a 'think tank' of the government - a directional and policy dynamo. NITI Aayog will provide governments at the central and state levels with relevant strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of key elements of policy," a union cabinet release here said.
Modi, in a series of tweets, said with the NITI Aayog the government would bid "farewell to a 'one size fits all' approach towards development while the body also "celebrates India's diversity".
"A pro-people, pro-active and participative development agenda stressing on empowerment & equality is the guiding principle behind NITI Aayog," he said.
Here are five important factors that will shape the new body:
1. The institution will serve as a 'think tank' of the government - a directional and policy dynamo.
2. 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.
3. The NITI Aayog will have regional councils to address specific issues and contingencies impacting more than one state or a region. These will be formed for a specified tenure.
4. The NITI Aayog will also have experts, specialists and practitioners with relevant domain knowledge as special invitees nominated by the Prime Minister.
5. The two part-time members of the new body would be from leading universities and research organisations.
With Agency Inputs
