Planning Commission Revamped As NITI Aayog

The Planning Commission has been replaced by NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog. It will have a governing council comprising of the chief ministers of all states and lieutenant governors of the union territories. The Prime Minister will chair the Aayog.

NITI Aayog will serve as an advisory panel on issues of “national and international importance” for the Centre as well as states.

“Having served as a CM in the past, I am very much aware of the importance of actively consulting the states. NITI Aayog does precisely that,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “A pro-people, proactive & participative development agenda stressing on empowerment & equality is the guiding principle behind NITI Aayog… Through NITI Aayog, we bid farewell to a ‘one size fits all’ approach towards development. The body celebrates India’s diversity & plurality,” he added.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that states will now have a say in the formulation of policy as NITI Aayog will have a two-way communication, and not just from the Centre to states.

“The regional councils will be convened by the Prime Minister and will comprise the chief ministers of all the states and lieutenant governors of union territories in the region. These will be chaired by the chairperson of the NITI Aayog or his nominee,” said an official statement.