indian polity book series 42

NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established by a resolution of the Union Cabinet. Therefore, it is not a statutory or constitutional body.

It is a Think Tank to formulate policies for the central and state governments.

The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of NITI Aayog.

NITI Aayog

The Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog are appointed by the Prime Minister.

NITI Aayog was primarily established with the objectives of achieving Sustainable Development Goals and promoting Cooperative Federalism.

NITI Aayog follows a Bottom-to-top approach in formulating policies.

The Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog holds the rank of a Union Cabinet Minister.

★ Which of the following statements is NOT correct? (Telangana Constables Prelims-2016)

1. NITI (NITI) Aayog was established through an Act of Parliament.
2. NITI (NITI) Aayog was established through a resolution of the Cabinet.
3. The first Vice-Chairman of NITI (NITI) Aayog was Arvind Panagariya.
4. The Chairman of NITI (NITI) Aayog is the Prime Minister.

Answer: 1) Parliament Act ద్వారా నీతి (NITI) ఆయోగ్ సంస్థ ఏర్పాటు చేయబడింది.

Correct Answer: 1

★ Match the following. (Telangana Constables Prelims - 2016)

List-1	List-2
A) Chairman of the First Finance Commission	1) H.J. Kania
B) First Chief Election Commissioner	2) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) First Chief Justice of India	3) K.C. Neogy
D) First Chairman of the Planning Commission of India	4) Sukumar Sen

Options:

1. 1) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
2. 2) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
3. 3) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
4. 4) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3

Answer: 2) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2

Correct Answer: 2

NITI Aayog - Composition

• Ex-officio CEO (Chief Executive Officer): Appointed by the Prime Minister.
• Members:
  • Chief Ministers of all states and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories are members.
  • 5 Full-time members, 2 Part-time members. Appointed by the Prime Minister.
  • 4 Union Ministers (Finance Minister, Railway Minister, Agriculture Minister, Home Minister) are ex-officio members. Nominated by the Prime Minister.
• Special Invitees:
  • Union Ministers of Human Resources Development, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Transport.

First Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog: Arvind Panagariya.

Current Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog: Rajiv Kumar.

First CEO of NITI Aayog: Sindhushree Khullar.

Current CEO: Amitabh Kant.

Currently, there are four full-time members in NITI Aayog. They are:

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1. V.K. Saraswat (Former Head of DRDO, Madhya Pradesh)
2. Ramesh Chand (Agricultural Economics Expert)
3. Vinod Paul (Pediatrics Expert at All India Institute of Medical Sciences-AIIMS, New Delhi)
4. Vivek Debroy

Ex-Officio Members: Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Narendra Singh Tomar.

Special Invitees: Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Thawar Chand Gehlot, Rao Inderjit Singh.

Regional Councils under NITI Aayog:

Regional Councils are formed under NITI Aayog. These councils examine issues related to more than one state or a region.

The Chief Ministers of the respective states and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories are members of this Regional Council.

Experts and individuals with specialized knowledge are nominated as special invitees by the Prime Minister.

Objectives of NITI Aayog:

1. To create a mechanism to formulate plans from the village level and monitor their implementation.
2. To provide strategic and technical advice to the central and state governments on important policy matters.
3. To promote the spirit of cooperative federalism.
4. To focus on poverty eradication, environmental protection, gender equality, and elimination of economic inequalities.

★ Examine the following points related to the NITI (NITI) Aayog established in India. (TS LRBT-2018)

A) NITI Aayog was established to provide critical, directional, and strategic basic advice to the development process.

B) It helps to promote and strengthen the cooperative federal system in India.

C) It formulates Five-Year Plans for India.

D) Through agreements, this organization provides knowledge, innovation, and institutional support.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1) A, B and C only
2. 2) A, B and D only
3. 3) B, C and D only
4. 4) A, C only

Answer: 2) ఎ, బి మరియు డి మాత్రమే.

Correct Answer: 2

National Development Council (NDC):

The National Development Council was established on August 6, 1952, by a resolution of the Union Cabinet.

The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of NDC.

Union Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers of all states, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, and all members of NITI Aayog are members of NDC.

The National Development Council is called 'Rashtriya Vikas Parishad' in Hindi.

It is neither a constitutional nor a statutory body. It is an "extra-constitutional, non-statutory body".

It examines and approves the draft plans prepared by the Planning Commission.

Approves national plans and reviews development programs.

Provides necessary suggestions and advice to achieve the goals specified in the plans.

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Official Languages:

The 8th Schedule of the Constitution describes the Official Languages.

Part 17 of the Constitution describes the Official Languages.

The Articles 343 to 351 of the Constitution deal with the Official Languages.

So far, the Indian Constitution has recognized 22 languages as Official Languages.

When the Indian Constitution came into force, there were 14 Official Languages.

Currently, there are 22 Official Languages in the Constitution:

1. Assamese
2. Bengali
3. Gujarati
4. Hindi
5. Kannada
6. Kashmiri
7. Malayalam
8. Marathi
9. Odia
10. Punjabi
11. Sanskrit
12. Tamil
13. Telugu
14. Urdu
15. Sindhi
16. Nepali
17. Manipuri
18. Konkani
19. Bodo
20. Santali
21. Maithili
22. Dogri

The 21st Constitutional Amendment (1967) added Sindhi as the 15th Official Language in the Constitution.

In 1992, the 71st Constitutional Amendment Act made Konkani, Nepali, and Manipuri Official Languages.

Through the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act (2003), Bodo, Santali, Maithili, and Dogri were made Official Languages.

Date of declaration of Telugu as the Official Language in Andhra Pradesh - 14th November 1966.

Language without script among the Official Languages of the Indian Constitution - Konkani.

Foreign language among the Official Languages of the Indian Constitution - Nepali.

Language that is an official language in Parliament but not among the Official Languages of the Constitution - English.

Bodo language is spoken in the state of Assam.

Dogri language is spoken in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Maithili language is spoken in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand.

Santali language is spoken in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan.

The most ancient language in the world among the Official Languages of the Indian Constitution - Sanskrit.

The first language to get the classical language status among the Official Languages of the Indian Constitution - Tamil.

The second language to get classical language status among the Official Languages of the Indian Constitution - Sanskrit.

Recently recognized classical languages:

• Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu, Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014)

Hindi came into force as the Official Language of the Government of India from 1965.

Official Language of the Central Government - Hindi (Devanagari script) (Article 343).

The Official Languages Act was enacted in 1963.

Correspondence between states that have not adopted Hindi as an official language is conducted in English.

Right to Information Act - 2005

Information is the collection of comprehensive reports, documents, work statistics, and details related to various programs undertaken by the government.

The right to obtain information held by public institutions is called the Right to Information.

The Right to Information is inherently embedded in Article 19(1)A of the Fundamental Rights in the Constitution.

★ Right to Information is a (AP SI-2016)

1. 1) Fundamental Right
2. 2) Fundamental Duty
3. 3) Directive Principle
4. 4) Ordinary Right

Answer: 1) ప్రాథమిక హక్కు.

Correct Answer: 1

As part of this, one can inspect works, documents, reports undertaken by the government. Copies of these and material samples can be taken.

Information related to development programs undertaken by the government through law, and their expenditures can be obtained.

Right to Information Act 2005: The Right to Information Act 2005 was approved by the President of India on June 15, 2005.

This Act came into force from October 12, 2005.

The Act contains provisions related to the responsibilities of government agencies, appointment of Public Information Officers, and establishment of Central and State Information Commissions, etc.

The officer who provides information under the Act is called the Public Information Officer (PIO).

PIOs must provide the requested information within 30 days.

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If the information is related to a person's life and liberty, it must be provided within 48 hours.

A person seeking information under the Act must submit a written request to the concerned officer in English, Hindi, or the official language of the region, or in electronic form.

The deadline for providing information is 30 days from the date of application.

Central Information Commission:

The Central Information Commission was established on September 11, 2005, for the implementation of the Right to Information Act.

The President appoints the Central Information Commission.

The office of the Central Information Commission is located in Delhi.

It is a permanent body.

The salaries and service conditions of the Chief Commissioner are similar to those of the Chief Election Commissioner. (Or) Up to 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.

The term of office of the Commission is 5 years.

The Governor appoints the State Information Commission.

Its central office is located in the state capital. In our state, it is in Hyderabad.

Those who violate the Act are liable to a penalty not exceeding ₹25,000, at the rate of ₹250 per day.

Raising awareness about the Right to Information Act is the responsibility of the Central and State Governments.

The Central Information Commission submits its report to the Central Government.

The State Information Commission submits its report to the State Government.

The Right to Information is a statutory right.

Transparency is essential for government programs to continue without secrecy.

List of Central Chief Information Commissioners so far:

1. Wajahat Habibullah (26-10-2005 to 29-09-2010)
2. A.N. Tiwari (30-09-2010 to 18-12-2010)
3. Satyananda Mishra (19-12-2010 to 4-9-2013)
4. Deepak Sandhu (5-9-2013 to 18-12-2013)
5. Rajiv Mathur (19-12-2013 to 21-5-2014)
6. Rajiv Mathur (22-5-2014 to 2015)
7. Vijai Sharma (06-10-2015 to 1-12-2015)
8. Radhakrishna Mathur (4 January 2016 – 24 November 2018)
9. Sudhir Bhargava (1 January 2019 to 2020 January 11)
10. Bimal Julka (2020 onwards 19 August ......)

Order of Precedence:

The Central Government (President's Secretariat) announced the Order of Precedence in the Central and State Governments in the form of a notification on July 26, 1979. This Order of Precedence was amended in 2009.

Currently, the Order of Precedence specified in this notification is:

1. President
2. Vice-President
3. Prime Minister of India
4. Governors of States within their respective States
5. Former Presidents
6. 5A. Deputy Prime Minister
7. Chief Justice of India, Speaker of Lok Sabha
8. Union Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers of respective States, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Former Prime Ministers, Leaders of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.
9. Bharat Ratna Award recipients.
10. Ambassadors, High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries working in India.
11. Supreme Court Judges.
12. 9A. Chairman of Union Public Service Commission, Chief Election Commissioner, Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
13. Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chief Ministers in States, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha.
14. Attorney General for India, Cabinet Secretary, Lieutenant Governors.

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12. Generals or equivalent rank in the Armed Forces.
13. Envoys and Ministers of foreign countries.
14. Chairmen of Legislative Councils, Speakers, Chief Justices of High Courts.
15. State Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers of Union Territories, Chief Executive Councillor of Delhi, Deputy Ministers of the Union Government.
16. Lieutenant General or equivalent rank in the Armed Forces.
17. Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal, Chairman of Minorities Commission, Chairperson of Scheduled Castes Commission, Chairperson of Scheduled Tribes Commission.
18. Chairman of Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission, Deputy Chairmen of Legislative Councils, Deputy Speakers, State Deputy Ministers, Ministers of Union Territories, Executive Councillors of Delhi, Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories, Chairman of Delhi Metropolitan Council.
19. Chief Commissioners of Union Territories, State Deputy Ministers, Deputy Speakers of Union Territories, Deputy Chairman of Delhi Metropolitan Council.
20. Deputy Chairmen and Deputy Speakers of other states; High Court Judges.
21. Members of Parliament
22. Deputy Chief Ministers of other states
23. Army Commanders / Vice Chief of Army Staff, Chief Secretaries of States, Members of Minorities Commission, Members of National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Members of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Secretaries to the Government of India, Secretary to the President, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretaries of Rajya Sabha / Lok Sabha, Solicitor General.
24. Lieutenant General, Officials of equivalent rank.
25. Additional Secretaries to the Government of India, Additional Solicitor General, Advocate Generals of States, Directors of CBI, Paramilitary Directors, Members of UPSC, Members of Central Administrative Tribunal.
26. Joint Secretaries to the Government of India, Officials of equivalent rank, Major General, Officials of equivalent rank.