NITI Aayog in Governance

• Establishment: NITI Aayog was established on 1 January 2015, replacing the Planning Commission.
• Objective: To promote cooperative and competitive federalism and shift from centralized planning to a bottom-up, evidence-based approach.
• Key Contributions (2015–2025):
  • Aspirational Districts Programme
  • Atal Innovation Mission
  • Data-driven governance tools such as the SDG India Index
• Overall Role: Aligns national policies with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supports inclusive and sustainable growth through strategic policy inputs.

What Makes NITI Aayog Successful

Decentralized Planning

• Actively engages state governments in policy design and implementation.
• Example: Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) promotes cooperative problem-solving in lagging districts.

Evidence-Based Policymaking

• Strong emphasis on data and analytics for informed decision-making.
• Example: Knowledge and Innovation Hub and publications such as the SDG India Index.

Long-Term Vision

• Focuses on future-oriented development planning.
• Example: AMRUT aimed at upgrading urban infrastructure in 500 cities.

Cooperative and Competitive Federalism

• Encourages collaboration and healthy competition among states.
• Example: Team India Hub and ADP rankings stimulate performance-based governance.

Expert-Driven Approach

• Constitutes task forces and expert groups on emerging areas.
• Example: Task force on Artificial Intelligence, involving domain experts for informed policymaking.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Tracks outcomes and implementation efficiency.
• Example: Use of Real-Time Monitoring Systems for course correction.

Driving Innovation

• Promotes a nationwide innovation ecosystem.
• Example: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) supports startups, incubation, and innovation culture.

NITI Aayog: Challenges, Solutions, and Contemporary Examples

1. Limited Influence

• Issue: Advisory nature limits enforcement power (e.g., demonetization, GST rollout).
• Solution: Strengthen mandate in implementation and monitoring.
• Example: Raised concerns over weakening of the RTI Act but lacked authority to intervene.

2. Financial Constraints

• Issue: No direct power to fund states.
• Solution: Create a dedicated strategic intervention fund.
• Example: ADP depends largely on scheme convergence due to funding limits.

3. Socioeconomic Concerns

• Issue: Persistent inequality and poverty.
• Solution: Focus on inclusive growth models with outcome monitoring.
• Example: Oxfam reports continue to highlight rising wealth inequality.

4. Questionable Neutrality

• Issue: Political influence in appointments affects credibility.
• Solution: Ensure merit-based, transparent appointments and institutional autonomy.

5. Data Transparency Issues

• Issue: Restricted data sharing reduces public trust.
• Solution: Adopt open data policies and publish methodologies.
• Example: Concerns related to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act impacting access and transparency.

Major Initiatives / Steps by NITI Aayog

A. Economic Development and Planning

• Vision India @2047
  • Long-term roadmap to make India a global leader in innovation, human development, and sustainability.
  • Targets:
    • $30 trillion economy
    • Per capita income of $18,000–20,000 by 2047
• Fiscal Health Index 2025
  • Ranked 18 states on fiscal performance.
  • Top Performers: Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand due to strong GDP growth and prudent public spending.

B. Social Development and Welfare

• Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP)
  • Focuses on health, nutrition, education, agriculture, and basic infrastructure in lagging districts.
• National Health Stack
  • Digital architecture to improve efficiency, accessibility, and integration in healthcare delivery.

C. Innovation and Technology

• Reimagining India’s R&D Strategy (April 2025)
  • Calls for overhauling India’s R&D ecosystem.
  • Context: India’s R&D spending remains below $100 billion, far behind China’s $496 billion.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
  • Supports startups, incubation centres, and innovation-led growth.
• National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Leverages AI for socio-economic development while addressing ethical and governance challenges.
• National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP)
  • Centralized platform enabling access to diverse datasets for evidence-based policymaking.

D. Environment and Sustainability

• Boosting Domestic Coking Coal (Nov 2024)
  • Recommendation to include coking coal in critical minerals list.
  • Context: India imports 85% of its coking coal; move supports Net Zero by 2070.
• National Strategy for Clean Air
  • Promotes clean technologies and sustainable practices to tackle air pollution.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy Framework
  • Encourages EV adoption to reduce pollution and enhance energy security.
• Blue Economy Policy Framework
  • Focuses on sustainable use of maritime resources—fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, and coastal development.

E. Education and Youth Empowerment

• Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs)
  • Established in schools to foster creativity and problem-solving through hands-on learning.
• AIM–PRIME
  • Bridges the gap between research and commercialization, supporting innovators and researchers.
• India–ASEAN Youth Summit
  • Promotes youth engagement, cultural exchange, and regional cooperation.
• NEP 2020 Implementation Support
  • Assists states in rolling out reforms for holistic and multidisciplinary education.

F. Urban Development and Infrastructure

• Smart Cities Mission
  • Supports states in improving urban infrastructure, service delivery, and sustainability through smart solutions.

G. Financial Inclusion and Digital Transformation

• Digital Payments Mission
  • Promotes cashless transactions, financial inclusion, and digital literacy.

H. Labour and Migration

• National Strategy for Migrant Workers
  • Addresses welfare, protection, portability of benefits, and integration into the formal economy.