Q.11. State the important objectives of NITI Aayog. How are the principles and functions of NITI Aayog different from those of the planning commission?

The NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established with the aim of fostering cooperative federalism and serving as a policy think tank for the Indian government. The important objectives of NITI Aayog include:

• Evolving a shared vision of national development priorities.
• Promoting cooperative federalism through structured support to states.
• Developing mechanisms for formulating credible plans at various levels of governance.
• Ensuring that national security interests are incorporated into economic strategy and policy.
• Paying special attention to vulnerable sections of society.
• Designing strategic and long-term policy frameworks and initiatives.
• Providing advice and encouraging partnerships between stakeholders.
• Creating a knowledge and innovation support system.
• Offering a platform for the resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues.
• Maintaining a state-of-the-art resource center for good governance and sustainable development.

The principles and functions of NITI Aayog differ from those of the Planning Commission in several ways:

• Decentralization: Unlike the Planning Commission, which had a centralized approach, NITI Aayog works towards a bottom-up approach, engaging actively with states to tailor policies to their needs.

• Advisory Role: NITI Aayog acts as an advisory body without the power to impose policies, whereas the Planning Commission had the authority to allocate funds and make decisions for states.

• Inclusive Governance: NITI Aayog promotes cooperative federalism, encouraging states to play a more proactive role in policy formulation. The Planning Commission’s role was more limited to the National Development Council meetings.

• Flexible Structure: NITI Aayog has provisions for part-time members based on requirements, which the Planning Commission did not have.

• Strategic Policy Vision: NITI Aayog is tasked with providing a strategic policy vision for the government and dealing with contingent issues, which is a broader mandate than the Planning Commission’s focus on five-year plans.

These differences reflect a shift towards a more inclusive, participatory, and flexible policy-making process in India.