Q.2. What are the objectives of NITI Aayog? Explain its three years action plan.

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) was established with the objectives of fostering cooperative federalism, formulating credible plans at various levels of governance, and ensuring inclusive growth that benefits all sections of society. Some of its key objectives include:

• Evolving a shared vision of national development priorities.
• Promoting cooperative federalism through structured support to states.
• Developing mechanisms for formulating credible plans from the village level upwards.
• Ensuring that national security interests are incorporated into economic strategy and policy.
• Paying special attention to vulnerable sections of society to ensure they benefit from economic progress.
• Designing strategic and long-term policy frameworks and monitoring their progress.

The Three-Year Action Plan of NITI Aayog, covering the years 2017-18 to 2019-20, was designed as a part of a larger vision that includes a seven-year strategy and a fifteen-year vision. The Action Plan marked a departure from the traditional five-year plans and aimed to align developmental strategies with the changing economic landscape. Key elements of the plan included:

• Reforms in critical sectors like agriculture, energy, and infrastructure for economic transformation.
• Initiatives for regional development to ensure balanced growth across all regions.
• Enhancing government efficiency through reforms in civil services and rationalization of government bodies.
• Focusing on social sectors like education, health, and social welfare to improve human development indices.
• Emphasizing sustainability and environmental conservation.

The Action Plan was developed with inputs from central ministries, state governments, and other stakeholders, reflecting a collaborative approach to policy formulation and implementation.