SYLLABUS

GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi, under the theme “Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047.”

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• The meeting brought together Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, Union Ministers, and senior officials to deliberate on strategies for achieving inclusive human development and translating the vision of Viksit Bharat into measurable outcomes.
• Discussions focused on four pillars of the Inclusive Human Development Framework: Foundational Human Capital and Future-Ready Skills; Productive Employment, Entrepreneurship and Decentralised Growth; Health, Nutrition and Well-being; and Equity and Dignity for All.
• The Governing Council deliberated on measures to promote entrepreneurship, strengthen skilling initiatives, and create sustainable employment opportunities across the country.
• It also reviewed recommendations of the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries (December 2025)and discussed an implementation roadmap leveraging governance reforms, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), partnerships, convergence, and data-driven systems to ensure accountability and measurable impact.

About NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)

• On January 1, 2015, NITI Aayog was established as the successor to the Planning Commission through an executive resolution of the Government of India (Union Cabinet).
• It is a non-constitutional body (not created by the Constitution) and a non-statutory body (not created by an Act of Parliament).
• NITI Aayog serves as the premier policy think tank of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs.
• It is responsible for designing strategic and long-term policies and programmes for national development.
• It also provides technical advice to both the Centre and States.
• The institution marks a significant shift from the Planning Commission era:
  • The one-way flow of policy from Centre to States is replaced by a genuine partnership between the Centre and States.
  • It adopts a collaborative approach instead of the earlier command-and-control model.
  • In line with the spirit of federalism, it follows a bottom-up approach, incorporating inputs from various stakeholders rather than a top-down model.
• Composition of NITI Aayog:
  • Chairperson: Prime Minister of India.
  • Governing Council: Comprises Chief Ministers of all States, Chief Ministers of Union Territories with legislatures, and Lt. Governors of other Union Territories.
  • Regional Councils: Formed to address specific issues affecting multiple states or regions.
    • Convened by the Prime Minister
    • Chaired by the Chairperson of NITI Aayog or their nominee
  • Special Invitees: Experts, specialists, and practitioners nominated by the Prime Minister.
  • Full-Time Organisational Framework:
    • Vice-Chairperson: Appointed by the Prime Minister, enjoys Cabinet rank.
    • Full-Time Members: Hold the rank of Minister of State.
    • Part-Time Members: From leading universities and research institutions (on rotation).
    • Ex-Officio Members: Up to four Union Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister.
    • Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure.
    • Secretariat: Provides administrative and technical support.

Governing Council of NITI Aayog

• The Governing Council came into effect on 16 February 2015 through a notification of the Cabinet Secretariat.
• It was reconstituted on 19 February 2021.
• It is the highest decision-making and consultative body of NITI Aayog.
• The Council embodies the principle of Cooperative Federalism by providing a platform for the Centre and States to evolve a shared vision of national priorities and development strategies.
• It discusses inter-sectoral, inter-departmental, and federal issues to accelerate implementation of the national development agenda.
• Objectives:
  • Promote Cooperative Federalism and Competitive Federalism.
  • Foster collaboration between the Union and State Governments.
  • Discuss inter-sectoral, inter-departmental, and federal issues.
  • Accelerate implementation of the national development agenda.
  • Build consensus on key policy and developmental priorities.