NITI Aayog: Core Objectives and Role
- Formation: Formed on 1 January 2015, replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission.
- Shift in Planning Approach: Marks a transition from centralized planning adopted post-Independence to a decentralized, multi-level planning framework.
- Involvement of States: Set up with the explicit objective of involving the states in economic policy making for India.
- Advisory Role: Serves to provide strategic and technical advice to both the Central and State governments.
Key Initiatives and Functions (as per the document)
- Poverty Data Reporting: Formulates and publishes official reports and data relating to poverty in India, which are accessible to the public via its website.
- Plan Appraisal: Undertakes reviews and policy evaluations, such as the Appraisal Document of Twelfth Five Year Plan 2012–2017.
- Employment Potential Estimation: Inherited and conducts policy studies (initiated by the erstwhile Planning Commission) to project employment creation across critical sectors, including estimates of creating nearly 20 lakh jobs in the education sector and over 35 lakh jobs annually through the promotion of tourism.
Importance and Role of NITI Aayog
- Involvement of States in Economic Policymaking: Set up with the primary objective of involving state governments directly in the economic policy-making process of India.
- Provision of Strategic and Technical Advice: Serves as an advisory body providing strategic as well as technical advice to both the Central and State governments.
- Fostering Decentralised Multi-level Planning: Replaced the Planning Commission on 1 January 2015 to support India’s graduation from centralised planning into decentralised multi-level planning.
- Publication of Official Data and Reports: Publishes critical reports and analytical data concerning diverse dimensions of the Indian economy, such as reports detailing poverty in India.
- Conducting Sectoral and Employment Studies: Analyzes growth opportunities and employment generation potential across key sectors (e.g., estimating job creation potential in areas such as the education sector and tourism).
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Formulates assessment and appraisal frameworks for national development strategies and five-year plans (such as the Appraisal Document of the Twelfth Five Year Plan).
References Ncert Document
https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/jess202.pdf
https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/keec103.pdf
https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/keec1ps.pdf
https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/iest1ps.pdf
https://www.ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/legy206.pdf
