NITI Aayog Governing Council

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Addressing the 7th meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council, the Prime Minister said that during the pandemic every State played a crucial role by focussing on the grassroots delivery of public services through cooperation across political lines. 

The Governing Council discussed four key issues: 

• Crop diversification and achieving self-sufficiency in pulses, oilseeds and other agri-commodities
• Implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in school education
• Implementation of the National Education Policy in higher education 
• Urban governance.

The Prime Minister stressed the need 

• To focus on modernised agriculture, animal husbandry, and food processing to become self-sufficient and a global leader in the agriculture sector. 
• He said rapid urbanisation could be turned into a strength by using technology to ensure ease of living, transparent service delivery and improvement in the quality of life.
• State should focus on promoting trade, tourism and technology via every Indian Mission around the world. 
• The States must focus on reducing imports, increasing exports and identifying opportunities thereof.

NITI Aayog

• The National Institution for Transforming India, also called NITI Aayog, was formed via a resolution of Union Cabinet on Jan 1, 2015 and it replaced the Planning Commission.
• NITI Aayog is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of GoI to bring states to act together in national interest, and therby foster Cooperative federalism.

Composition

• 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 members 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.

Hubs of NITI Aayog

• Team India Hub acts as interface between States and Centre.
• Knowledge and Innovation Hub builds the think-tank acumen of NITI Aayog.
• The Aayog planned to come out with three documents — 3-year action agenda, 7-year medium-term strategy paper and 15-year vision document.