Prachi Mishra, Pune
National Institution for Transforming India (popularly known as NITI Aayog), the foundation of which was laid in the year 2015, is the fastigium public policy advisory board of the Indian Government. The think tank was set up by the NDA government led by Narendra Modi to substitute the planning commission and get rid of the 65-year-long top-down model that was followed.
The idea behind establishing such a council was to develop federalism, prosper our nation into an egalitarian society, and engage the citizens in policy-making. Therefore, the panel now comprises the chief ministers from all the states as well as the chief minister or lieutenant governors of union territories, a vice-chairman who is selected by the Prime minister. The board also consists of interim members who are part of guiding research institutes or universities across the country. A CEO (Chief Executive Officer), three rotational, and four ex-officio (from the office) members are appointed as interim members.
This year on 16th July, the NITI Aayog was reconstructed and made public notice by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who directed the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government ruling at the centre. The official notification displays that the position of chairperson and Vice-chairperson of NITI Aayog remains the same, the chair being held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself and Economist Suman K Berry respectively.
The full-time members of NITI Aayog remain the same as well and will continue to hold their chairs. The list comprises Scientist V K Saraswat who was a former DG at ISRO, Ramesh Chand – an agricultural economist, Dr. V K Paul – a Paediatrician, and Arvind Virmani – a renowned Economist.
Not much change was observed in the list of four ex-officio members as well, with the list comprising the union ministers from the PM’s cabinet. Defence Minister – Rajnath Singh, Home Minister – Amit Shah, Finance Minister – Nirmala Sitharamam, and Agriculture Minister – Shivraj Singh Chauhan continue to hold their authority. The only change was observed in the position of Agriculture Minister. Shivraj Singh Chouhan takes up the chair replacing Narendra Singh Tomar who is not serving in the third term of the NDA government.
Special invitees this time have observed changes in its panel as the seats have been allotted to different party members from the allied government as well. Jitan Ram Manjhi from the Hindustani Awam Morcha is heading the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Ministry, and Chirag Paswan from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is heading the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.