Reason for NITI Aayog's Establishment: part 7

Here are notes from the provided audio about NITI Aayog:

Introduction:

• This video discusses NITI Aayog, which was established in place of the Planning Commission (Pranalika Sangham) and NDC (National Development Council).

Reason for NITI Aayog's Establishment:

• The Planning Commission was established on March 15, 1950, to achieve the goals of independent India.

• However, the Planning Commission was largely unsuccessful in achieving the desired goals.

• Its traditional methods were not suitable for modern, competitive India.

• The Planning Commission's approach of preparing national plans and expecting states to implement them without considering individual state needs and involving states in the planning process was ineffective.

• A new system was needed that was suitable for modern India, allowing it to compete globally.

Establishment:

• The idea to replace the Planning Commission with a new body was announced by Narendra Modi on August 15, 2014, during his Independence Day speech.

• News of the Planning Commission's potential dissolution first appeared on May 29, 2014.

• The Planning Commission was officially dissolved (రాష్ట్రపతి ఆమోదంతో రద్దు) on August 17, 2014.

• NITI Aayog was established on January 1, 2015, after all states accepted the proposal which was announced on December 7, 2014 (Chief Ministers' conference).

Meaning of NITI Aayog:

• NITI: National Institution for Transforming India.

• In Telugu, it means భారత జాతీయ పరివర్తనకై ఒక సంస్థ (An institution for India's national transformation).

• Parivartana (పరివర్తన): Change (specifically a positive or improved change/transformation).

• NITI (నీతి): In Hindi, means విధానము (policy/method).

• Aayog (ఆయోగ్): In Hindi, means సంస్థ లేదా సంఘము (institution or body).

• NITI Aayog (combined): విధాన రూపకల్పన సంస్థ (Policy Formulation Institution) or ఆలోచనల కేంద్రం (Center of ideas/Think Tank).

Role and Purpose:

• NITI Aayog's primary purpose is to formulate policies/strategies (విధానాలను రూపొందించడం).

• It acts as a key player in formulating national policies (జాతీయ విధానాల రూపకల్పన).

• It prepares policies related to agriculture, industry, population, trade, health, education, etc.

• It acts as a Think Tank (మేధో కేంద్రం) for the country, providing guidance (మార్గనిర్దేశం).

• It makes recommendations and gives advice to the Central Government, State Governments, Ministries, and local governments.

• It doesn't implement policies itself. It provides strategies and suggestions.

• It doesn't create fixed 5-year plans like the Planning Commission. It focuses on flexible strategies based on current conditions and resources.

• It aims to guide the country towards greater prosperity by identifying opportunities and optimizing resource allocation.

Key Functions/Goals:

1. Building Strong States for a Strong Nation: (బలమైన రాష్ట్రాలతో బలమైన దేశాన్ని తయారు చేయాలి) - A strong nation is built on strong states.

2. Ensuring State Participation: Bringing states into the process of formulating national and international policies (జాతీయ అంతర్జాతీయ విధానాల రూపకల్పనలో రాష్ట్రాల భాగస్వామ్యం). This involves consulting states and giving them representation.

3. Providing Advice: Giving strategic and technical advice to Central, State, and local governments and ministries. (కేంద్ర రాష్ట్రాలకి, మంత్రిత్వ శాఖలకు, స్థానిక ప్రభుత్వాలకి వ్యూహాత్మకంగా సాంకేతికంగా సలహాలు ఇవ్వడం).

4. Resolving Issues: Resolving problems that arise between state governments or between the central and state governments. (రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వాల మధ్య మరియు కేంద్ర రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వాల మధ్య వచ్చే సమస్యలను పరిష్కరించడం).

5. Promoting Skill Development: Working towards improving skills across the nation. (నైపుణ్యాభివృద్ధి కోసం ఒక ప్రణాళికను తయారు చేసి ఇవ్వడం). It has a dedicated Skill Development section.

6. Encouraging Innovation: Fostering new inventions and innovations. (నూతన ఆవిష్కరణలు ప్రవేశపెట్టడం ద్వారా నవకల్పనలు ప్రవేశపెట్టాలి). Supports startups and new ideas (e.g., Voice-based payment system 'Tone Tag', Hydrogen car technology). Helps connect innovators with investors.

7. Promoting Decentralized Planning: Encouraging planning from the ground up (bottom-up approach) instead of top-down. Local needs are best understood locally. (వికేంద్రీకృత ప్రణాళిక వ్యవస్థను ప్రోత్సహిస్తుంది). Gram Sabhas can identify needs and send proposals upwards.

8. Developing Long-Term Strategies: Creating visions and strategies for India's future.

   • Vision 2030 (15-year vision - document not yet released).

   • Strategy for New India @ 75 (7-year strategy - released, focuses on India at 75 years of independence).

   • 3-Year Action Plan (released).

   • India @ 100 / Amrit Kaal @ 2047 (Vision for India when it turns 100 years old). Focuses on eliminating poverty and achieving all-round development by 2047. This strategy involves widespread consultation (550 district-level officers, 800 experts).

9. Promoting specific initiatives: Example: Sugam Bima (సుగమ్ బీమా) – a platform to ensure insurance coverage for every Indian by 2047, working with IRDAI.

Motto (నినాదం):

• Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas

  • అందరము కలిసి (With everyone / Together)

  • అందరి వికాసం కోసము (For everyone's development)

  • అందరి విశ్వాసం కోసము (With everyone's trust)

  • అందరం కలిసి కట్టుగా పని చేయాలి / కృషి చేయాలి (Everyone should work together with effort)

Structure (Body):

• Chairman (అధ్యక్షుడు): The Prime Minister (దేశ ప్రధాని) of India.

  • First Chairman: Narendra Modi.

  • Note: In exams, if asked "Who is the Chairman of NITI Aayog?", the answer is "Prime Minister" (దేశ ప్రధాని), not the current PM's name unless specifically asked for the current chairman.

• Vice-Chairman (ఉపాధ్యక్షుడు): Appointed by the Prime Minister based on Parliament suggestion.

  • Current: Suman Bery (సుమన్ బెరీ).

  • Previous: Rajiv Kumar (రాజీవ్ కుమార్).

  • First: Arvind Panagariya (అరవింద్ పనగరియా).

• CEO (సీఈఓ - Chief Executive Officer): Appointed by the Government.

  • Current: B.V.R. Subrahmanyam (బి.వి.ఆర్. సుబ్రహ్మణ్యం).

  • Previous: Parameswaran Iyer (పరమేశ్వరన్ అయ్యర్).

  • Previous: Amitabh Kant (అమితాబ్ కాంత్).

  • First: Sindhushree Khullar (సింధుశ్రీ ఖుల్లర్).

• Ex-officio Members (ఎక్స్ అఫీషియో మెంబర్స్): Four Union Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister. (అధికార రీత్యా సభ్యులు).

  • Currently:

    • Rajnath Singh (రాజ్‌నాథ్ సింగ్) - Defence Minister.

    • Amit Shah (అమిత్ షా) - Home Minister.

    • Nirmala Sitharaman (నిర్మలా సీతారామన్) - Finance Minister.

    • Arjun Munda (అర్జున్ ముండా) - Agriculture Minister (replaced Narendra Singh Tomar).

• Full-time Members (పూర్తి కాల సభ్యులు): Experts from various fields. Expected structure is 5 full-time members + 2 part-time members, but speaker lists 5 full-time members including the Vice-Chairman.

  • Currently identified (excluding VP):

    • V.K. Saraswat (వి.కె. సారస్వత్) - Former DRDO Chairman, science expert.

    • Ramesh Chand (రమేష్ చంద్) - Agriculture Expert.

    • Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul (డాక్టర్ వినోద్ కుమార్ పాల్) - Public Health Expert (also mentioned as AIIMS member).

    • Arvind Virmani (అరవింద్ వీర్మణి) - Economist (replaced Vivek Debroy).

  • Total 5 full-time members: The 4 listed above + the Vice-Chairman (Suman Bery).

• Special Invitees (ప్రత్యేక ఆహ్వానితులు): Ministers invited to participate. (ప్రత్యేక ఆహ్వానితులు).

  • Currently mentioned:

    • Nitin Gadkari (నితిన్ గడ్కరీ) - Minister of Road Transport and Highways.

    • Piyush Goyal (పీయూష్ గోయల్) - Minister of Textiles (formerly Commerce & Industry).

    • Virendra Kumar (వీరేంద్ర కుమార్) - Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.

    • Ashwini Vaishnaw (అశ్విని వైష్ణవ్) - Railway Minister.

    • Rao Inderjit Singh (రావు ఇంద్రజిత్ సింగ్) - Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

• Governing Council (పాలక మండలి): Considered the "soul" or "gunde" (heart) of NITI Aayog. This is where key national and state-level strategies are formulated with direct input from states.

  • Chairman: Prime Minister.

  • Members:

    • Chief Ministers of all States (రాష్ట్రాల ముఖ్యమంత్రులు).

    • Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories (కేంద్రపాలిత ప్రాంతాల లెఫ్ట్నెంట్ గవర్నర్లు). Note: For UTs with a legislature (like Delhi and Puducherry), the Chief Minister is the member, not the Lt. Governor.

Key Takeaway Points Emphasized:

• NITI Aayog is a Think Tank that prepares policy strategies, not a body that implements plans or allocates funds like the Planning Commission.

• It gives importance to states' participation in national policy formulation.

• It promotes decentralized planning.

• Its goal is transformation and achieving specific visions for India's future (like India @ 100).

• The Governing Council is crucial as it includes CMs and L-Gs, making it a platform for cooperative federalism.