NITI Aayog Sub-Groups & Task Forces part 8

 Here are the notes from the Telugu speech about NITI Aayog's sub-groups and task forces, and the differences between NITI Aayog and the Planning Commission:

NITI Aayog Sub-Groups & Task Forces

1. Regional Council (ప్రాంతీయ మండలి)

   • Purpose: Addresses specific problems in a particular region.

   • Head: Prime Minister (PM).

   • Members: CMs of relevant states, Lt. Governors of relevant UTs.

2. Sub-Groups Working under NITI Aayog

   • Formed based on decisions made in the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting on Feb 8, 2015.

   • Three sub-groups were established on March 9, 2015.

   • Sub-Group 1: NITI Aayog Sub-Group on Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS)

     • Formed: March 9, 2015.

     • Purpose: To determine the funding pattern between the Centre and States for Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

     • Background:

       • Central Sector Schemes: 100% funded by the Centre (on Union list).

       • Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS): Schemes on State or Concurrent list, Centre chooses to implement, funding is shared.

     • Scheme Categorization (within CSS):

       • Core of the Core Schemes: (6 schemes mentioned e.g., MGNREGS, Social Assistance, Umbrella Schemes for various groups) - Mostly 100% Centre funded, except MGNREGS (90:10 Centre:State).

       • Core Schemes: (Approx. 22 schemes)

       • Optional Schemes: (Approx. 2 schemes, e.g., RURBAN, Border Area Development)

     • Funding Pattern for CSS (Based on this sub-group's decisions):

       • Backward States (8 NE States + 2 Himalayan States: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh):

         • Core Schemes: 90% Centre, 10% State

         • Optional Schemes: 80% Centre, 20% State

       • Other States:

         • Core Schemes: 60% Centre, 40% State

         • Optional Schemes: 50% Centre, 50% State

       • Union Territories (UTs): 100% Centre funding for all schemes.

     • States/UTs involved in this sub-group (who decide which schemes are CSS, Core, Optional, etc.): Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, J&K (as state previously, now applies to UTs), Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar (Lt. Governor). (Total 10 states + 1 UT Admin).

     • Convenor: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh (Currently Mohan Yadav).

   • Sub-Group 2: NITI Aayog Sub-Group on Skill Development

     • Formed: March 9, 2015.

     • Came into effect / Document submitted: March 24, 2015.

     • Purpose: Develop and implement strategies for skill development across India. Target: Providing skills to 500 million Indians (50 crore workers).

     • Concepts:

       • Reskill: For those with existing skills that need updating.

       • Upskill: To enhance existing skills to higher levels.

       • Vision Skilling: Providing basic skills to those with none.

     • States/UTs involved: Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Gujarat, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Puducherry (CM). (Total 10 states + 1 UT Admin).

     • Convenor: Chief Minister of Punjab (Currently Bhagwant Singh Mann).

   • Sub-Group 3: NITI Aayog Sub-Group on Swachh Bharat

     • Formed: March 9, 2015.

     • Came into effect: March 26, 2015.

     • Purpose: Focus on cleanliness, sanitation, and waste management across India.

     • Background: Swachh Bharat Mission started Oct 2, 2014. Initially, only ~20% of urban waste was managed; now near 80% is managed.

     • Swachh Bharat 1.0: Focused on making India Open Defecation Free (ODF Free).

     • Swachh Bharat 2.0: Focus on making India Garbage Free Cities (GFC). Target is 100% waste elimination (by 2025 or later).

     • Impact: Significant reduction in Typhoid, Malaria, Diarrhea cases. Dengue is still a challenge requiring attention.

     • States/UTs involved: Sikkim, Mizoram, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi (CM). (Total 9 states + 1 UT Admin).

     • Convenor: Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (Currently YS Jagan).

   • Coordination of Sub-Groups:

     • The NITI Aayog CEO coordinates the activities of these three sub-groups.

     • Current CEO: BVR Subrahmanyam.

3. Task Forces under NITI Aayog

   • Two main task forces work under NITI Aayog.

   • Task Force 1: Task Force on Agriculture

     • Purpose: Focus on Agriculture development.

   • Task Force 2: Task Force on Poverty

     • Purpose: Focus on poverty eradication.

   • Chairman of Task Forces:

     • The NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman is the Chairman for both Task Forces.

NITI Aayog vs. Planning Commission

Feature	Planning Commission	NITI Aayog
State CMs Role	No membership for State CMs.	State CMs are members (Governing Council, Sub-Groups).
Federalism	Didn't promote cooperative federalism; more centralized.	Promotes cooperative federalism by involving states.
Planning	Centralized planning approach.	Decentralized planning approach.
Plan Type	Prepared 5-Year Plans.	Prepares long-term visions and strategies (no 5-year plans).
State Consultation	Did not necessarily consult states for plan making.	Prepares strategies/visions after consulting states.
Pressure on States	Could exert pressure on states for plan implementation.	Less pressure on states as they are involved in drafting.
Funding Allocation	Responsible for allocating funds to states/schemes.	Does not allocate funds. (Finance Ministry handles this).
Leadership	Headed by a Secretary (Cabinet Sec or senior IAS).	Headed by a CEO (appointed by PM based on Parliament).
Focus	Emphasized planning.	Emphasizes strategies and visions.
Transparency	Decisions could be perceived as centralized/less transparent.	Decisions are more consultative and potentially more transparent.

(Note: The speaker mentions future topics like NITI Aayog's Action Plan and Strategy for New India @ 75 document, but they are not detailed in this segment.)